Agenda item

Cabinet received a report detailing that, in line with the Council’s Service Devolution and Asset Transfer Policy, it was proposed to progress with an offer of terms to transfer the leases of 3 Council owned community centres to Aylesbury Town Council from 1 April 2024. The proposed devolution included the Quarrendon and Meadowcroft Community Centre, the Haydon Hill Community Centre and the Aylesbury Multicultural Centre.

If approved, Aylesbury Town Council would be offered 25-year full repairing and insuring (FRI) leases and become the ‘head landlords’ of the centres. Buckinghamshire Council would therefore retain overall ownership of the assets.

Buckinghamshire Council would retain authority as a ‘superior landlord’ meaning any impactful decision Aylesbury Town Council (ATC) might wish to make regarding development of sites would have to first be approved by Buckinghamshire Council.

Under the proposal the 3 existing Community Associations who currently occupied and utilised the centres would be offered internal repairing insuring (IRI) Iease renewals of 10 years which would ensure their continued use and access to the facilities.

The Cabinet Member for Communities suggested an amendment to the recommendation that the Town Council required a 10 year lease for bowlers field rather than a short term two year lease mentioned in the report. This was because the field needed some investment as it had a flooding issue so a longer term lease was more practical. There were also changing rooms.

Because of the way Special Expenses funding worked through the MTFP, the only Revenue saving for the Council would be on Aylesbury Multicultural Centre (£20k), as this was not part of the Special Expenses arrangement.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the proposed offer and Heads of Terms for the devolution of three sites under long term leases to Aylesbury Town Council, including that the offer of a short term lease on Bowlers Field will be for 10 years and not 2 years, be AGREED.

(2)               That the Revenue Budget changes to remove the Special Expenses budget of £41,372 within the Communities portfolio, and a new Revenue Saving of £20,000 per year in the Accessible Housing & Resources portfolio, be AGREED.

Cabinet received a report detailing that, in line with the Council’s Service Devolution and Asset Transfer Policy, it was proposed to progress with an offer of terms to transfer the leases of 3 Council owned community centres to Aylesbury Town Council from 1 April 2024. The proposed devolution included the Quarrendon and Meadowcroft Community Centre, the Haydon Hill Community Centre and the Aylesbury Multicultural Centre.

If approved, Aylesbury Town Council would be offered 25-year full repairing and insuring (FRI) leases and become the ‘head landlords’ of the centres. Buckinghamshire Council would therefore retain overall ownership of the assets. Buckinghamshire Council would retain authority as a ‘superior landlord’ meaning any impactful decision Aylesbury Town Council (ATC) might wish to make regarding development of sites would have to first be approved by Buckinghamshire Council.

Under the proposal, the 3 existing Community Associations who currently occupied and utilised the centres would be offered internal repairing insuring (IRI) Iease renewals of 10 years, which would ensure their continued use and access to the facilities.

The Cabinet Member for Communities suggested an amendment to the recommendation that the Town Council required a 10 year lease for bowlers field rather than a short term two year lease mentioned in the report. This was because the field needed some investment as it had a flooding issue so a longer term lease was more practical. There were also changing rooms.

Because of the way Special Expenses funding worked through the MTFP, the only Revenue saving for the Council would be on Aylesbury Multicultural Centre (£20k), as this was not part of the Special Expenses arrangement.

A Cabinet Member reported that it was right to devolve facilities to town and parish councils where appropriate, but in the current financial climate it was important to lease to councils and retain ownership as the Council could not afford to gift any land. He asked a question whether this was a one off or whether there were any other plans to devolve further. In response, it was noted that this was a one off project relating to this area (although there were other projects being planned), the playing field had not been used for a long time and needed some investment and it would be better value to devolve. The Centre had a 25 year lease.

The Leader referred to a previous Cabinet and one of the issues with devolution was that it required a lot of staff resources which impacted on the budget. The work was very intensive in terms of negotiations so there was a restriction on the amount of devolution proposals that could be implemented at any one point in time. Each opportunity was looked at on its own merits and for this proposal it made sense in terms of consolidation of the facility.  

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the proposed offer and Heads of Terms for the devolution of three sites under long term leases to Aylesbury Town Council, including that the offer of a short term lease on Bowlers Field will be for 10 years and not 2 years, be AGREED.

(2)               That the Revenue Budget changes to remove the Special Expenses budget of £41,372 within the Communities portfolio, and a new Revenue Saving of £20,000 per year in the Accessible Housing & Resources portfolio, be AGREED.