Agenda item

Prior to the Public Question and Comments, the Chairman introduced Terry Bannister the Chairman of the Totteridge Manor Association to address the meeting and provide details as to the proposed not-for-profit group that wished to lease and manage the Nature Reserve. Members asked questions following the comments, which were then answered by Terry Bannister.

The Chairman introduced the report and read out the following proposed amendment to the report recommendations that would be moved during the discussion and a clarification to a paragraph in the report.

To amend recommendation 2 to read as follows:

That the Committee delegates authority to the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Chairman of the Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee, to investigate, draft and finalise detailed proposals for any disposal, following a period of 4 weeks public consultation, such proposals to contain suitable parameters to serve the best interests of the Council.

To clarify that, having consulted with officers, the unfinished paragraph 5.1.7 should read as follows:

There has not yet been any public consultation for the disposal of Darlands Nature Reserve on a long lease to an appropriate group. There will be an initial period of 4 week public consultation to inform the procurement process and conservation management plan. When an appropriate group is identified through the process the necessary statutory consultation will take place, which is a minimum of 2 weeks in a public newspaper.

Councillor Langleben moved a motion that was duly seconded, to defer the decision of the disposal to a future meeting once more information as to the proposed lease and makeup of the not for profit trust were available.

The votes were recorded as follows

The motion was therefore lost.

Councillor Cornelius moved a motion that was duly seconded, to extend the consultation period proposed by the Chairman in recommendation 2 (and referred to in paragraph 5.1.7) to a period of 6 week public consultation.

The votes were recorded as follows:

The motion was therefore carried

Councillor Cooke moved a motion that was duly seconded, to delete delegation to the Director of Resources on recommendation 2 and 3 and instead to bring back the reports to review the response from the public consultation and agree the final lease.

The votes were recorded as follows

The motion was therefore lost.

Councillor Coakley Webb moved a motion that was duly seconded, to extend the consultation proposed by the Chairman in recommendation 2 (and referred to in paragraph 5.1.7) to a period of 3 months public consultation.

The votes were recorded as follows:

The motion was therefore lost.

The Chairman then moved the following motion to amend recommendation 2 and amend para 5.1.7 as follows

2             That the Committee delegates authority to the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Chairman of the Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee, to investigate, draft and finalise detailed proposals for any disposal, following a period of 6 weeks public consultation, such proposals to contain suitable parameters to serve the best interests of the Council.

5.1.7     There has not yet been any public consultation for the disposal of Darlands Nature Reserve on a long lease to an appropriate group. There will be an initial period of 6 week public consultation to inform the procurement process and conservation management plan. When an appropriate group is identified through the process the necessary statutory consultation will take place, which is a minimum of 2 weeks in a public newspaper.

The votes were recorded as follows:

The motion was therefore carried

The Chairman moved to the vote on the recommendations as amended.

The votes were recorded as follows:

The committee RESOLVED:

1.    To note the intention to dispose of the land shaded pink on the plan attached at Appendix A on a long lease to an appropriate not-for-profit group

2.    To delegate authority to the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Chairman of the Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee, to investigate, draft and finalise detailed proposals for any disposal, following a period of 6 weeks public consultation, such proposals to contain suitable parameters to serve the best interests of the Council.

3.    To delegate authority to the Director of Resources to take all necessary steps to implement the proposals for any disposal in accordance with the Management of Asset, Property and Land Rules including responding to the statutory public consultation, and subject to having obtained all required statutory consents.