Issue - meetings

At the meeting on 9 September 2015 the Cabinet resolved (Appendix 1: E2784) to request that a further report be brought back to Cabinet within the following 4 months to consider and approve that the provisions in 5.7 had been satisfied.

The provisions in 5.7 are set out in full in this report and in summary the requirement is to identify more fully the social objectives which are to be delivered from these premises in favour of the community.

This is the first available Cabinet meeting for this report to be made.

Councillor Dine Romero asked for an assurance that this Cabinet was satisfied that the original decision, that had been made by previous Administration, was properly made and in accordance with Council’s procedures.  Councillor Romero also said that this project demonstrated that the value of services to be delivered by Genesis was equal to, or greater than the rent abatement and that the cost benefit ratio demonstrated clear overall benefit to the public.

Councillor Charles Gerrish said that on 9^th September 2015 the Cabinet resolved to request that a further report be brought back to Cabinet to consider and approve that the provisions in the original report were satisfied.  The original decision that had been made by previous Administration, was properly made and in accordance with Council’s procedures.  The value of services to be delivered by Genesis was equal to, or greater than the rent abatement.  The cost benefit ratio demonstrated clear overall benefit to the public.  The capital input of £100,000 was approved and included in the 2014/15 Corporate Capital Estate Planned Maintenance cost plan and this has been carried forward into 2016/17.  Councillor Gerrish welcomed the expansion of the Genesis Life Skills project and also establishment of a new ‘social enterprise’ project named ‘Acacia’.

Councillor Charles Gerrish moved the recommendations.

Councillor Vic Pritchard seconded the motion by saying that he was happy to support the grant of a lease to the Genesis Trust, particularly in light of the further information provided within this report.  The benefits that the Genesis Trust would be delivering to the community were incredibly worthwhile and the Council is pleased to support this by offering a rental concession.  The cost/benefit analysis had demonstrated a clear overall benefit to the public.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

1)  Reconfirm authority, first approved in the Single Member Decision E2741 dated 11th February 2015, that the Corporate Property Officer be authorised to enter into an agreement for lease leading to grant of a lease based on the agreed heads of terms. The structure of the transaction has been amended however and the contract will be a direct lease to commence from date of exchange.

2)  Note that:

a.  Assessment work undertaken has demonstrated that the value of services as a result of the Community Asset Transfer if externally procured is at least equal to or greater than the value of the rent abatement (£20,000pa)

b.  A separate cost/benefit analysis has demonstrated a clear overall benefit to the public purse from the asset transfer project

3)  Adopt and agree the Social Objects to be delivered as a result of the Community Asset Transfer and to note the arrangements for monitoring and review

4)  Note the range of uses that are considered inappropriate for the environment as stated in the Social Objects part of the report.