Issue - meetings

Report by the Assistant Chief Executive

12.1     The Committee considered a report by the Scrutiny Panel, established at the March Committee meeting, to examine whether any future scrutiny work was required in respect of the St Anne’s site disposal.

12.2     The Committee discussed the length of time the process had taken from the closure of the school in 2005, and the desirability of avoiding a similar situation in future.  The Committee suggested a review period should be included in future protracted negotiations, and it was confirmed that the ongoing review of property policies could address this point. The Committee requested that consideration be given to the interaction of the policies with the SPACES programme.

12.3     The Chief Operating Officer confirmed that the community transfer of the St. Anne’s site was no longer viable, even to previous bidders, and that alternatives were being considered including Community Asset Transfer.    

12.4     RESOLVED to (1) not carry out any further scrutiny of the process used to dispose of the St Anne’s site;

(2) agree in principle to undertake a review of the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) and “Meanwhile Use” policy within the context of the suite of interrelated property policies that exist, with a decision on whether to proceed to be taken in September;

(3) request sight of proposals for the future disposal of St Anne’s site before a final decision is taken, but only if it is proposed to dispose of the site at less than market value; and

(4) retain an overview of all related proposed property disposals at less than market value, such as community asset transfers (CATs). 

52.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chair of the Review Board which set out the key findings and recommendations from the review of the disposal of the former St Anne’s School site in Lewes. The Chair thanked the Panel and the Scrutiny Officers, Paul Dean and Harvey Winder, together with other officers who gave evidence, and the members of the public who attended and gave evidence.

52.2.    The Lead Member for Resources welcomed the report, and the Chief Operating Officer’s response to the recommendations of the Review.

52.3.    It was noted by the Committee that this was the first transfer of its kind undertaken by the County Council, and that lessons had been learned as a result of this valuable Review.  Other key points of the discussion were:

·        The need to engage with relevant local Members early in such a process in future

·        The value of a lease arrangement in securing outcomes desired by the Council

·        The establishment of a Management Committee, on which the Council will have a role, for the future operation of St Anne’s

52.4.    RESOLVED – (1) to thank the Chair of the Review Board, the Panel, officers who gave evidence, the public who gave evidence, and the support officers Bethan Hampson, Paul Dean and Harvey Winder;

(2) to endorse the thorough and well considered report of the Review Board.