Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet authorise the Assistant Director of Property and Facilities Services to negotiate and agree the terms and conditions of the proposed disposal and acquisition shown on the plan at Appendix 1 in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs, and the Local Economy.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval for the disposal of land off Far Field Lane, Wath Upon Dearne to Barratt David Wilson Homes and acquisition of land from the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estates (FWE) to replace statutory allotments.

The Council and the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate (FWE) both owned land off Far Field Lane, Wath Upon Dearne, which was allocated for residential development, referenced H97 in the Local Plan. FWE were the majority landholder of this allocation. The Disposal and Acquisition plan was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Council ownership (marked red on Appendix 1) was a smaller section of the total developable area and was currently restricting access to any development of the site. Non-binding discussions had taken place between FWE, the Council and Barratt David Wilson Homes to consolidate the land and for FWE and the Council to directly sell to Barratt David Wilson Homes.

The Council’s land was currently categorised as a statutory allotment site which had been vacant for more than 30 years. There was no demand for the provision of allotments on this site and as such the site was surplus to the Councils requirements. The Allotment Alliance and Allotment Society had both been consulted, and whilst they did not have any objection to this proposal (and did not wish to retain this unused site), they wished to see the future of another allotment site known as Sandymount allotments, have a statutory status, securing further future provision in the area.

Resolved:

That Cabinet authorise the Assistant Director of Property and Facilities Services to negotiate and agree the terms and conditions of the proposed disposal and acquisition shown on the plan at Appendix 1 in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs, and the Local Economy.