Purpose

Proposed
decision:
 
The Deputy Leader to agree to:
 
1.   
the disposal of Land at the junction of West Malling
Bypass and land South of the London Road, Leybourne; and
 
2.   
to delegate authority to the Director of
Infrastructure, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to finalise
the terms of the disposal and execution of all necessary or
desirable documentation required to implement the above.
 
Reason for the decision
The
property is surplus to the Council’s operational requirements
and due to its projected value, a Key Decision will be required as
per Kent County Council’s (KCC) constitution.
 
Background
The property which
extends to approximately 4 hectares is undeveloped and previously
held by KCC’s Growth Environment & Transport division
(GET), for a new road scheme and was declared as surplus highway
land in December 2022. There are no other KCC uses for the site
that have been identified, and the site is therefore surplus to the
Council’s requirements.
 
The Council intends to
market the site, and advice from agents indicates that it is
expected that the level of net sales receipts to KCC
will be in excess of the delegated threshold and that a Key
Decision is required.
 
A
decision is therefore sought to authorise the disposal of the site
and to delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure to
finalise the terms subject to consultation with the relevant
Cabinet Member.
 
Options (other options considered but discarded)

-    
Reuse the site

-    
Continue to hold the site vacant in case of a future
requirement.

-    
Disposal of the asset. This is the recommended
option.
 

How the proposed decision supports the

Framing Kent's Future
- Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
This
decision supports Framing Kent’s Future 2022-2026 as the
disposal will release land for development.

 
How
the proposed decision supports
Securing Kent’s Future 2022 -2026:
Securing Kents Future - Budget Recovery
Strategy 
This
decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022-2026 by
securing a capital receipt to invest in KCC’s priority
projects and programmes whilst also streamlining KCC’s
property portfolio, achieving financial and efficiency
benefits. 
 

Decision

As Deputy Leader, I agree to:
 
1.         the disposal
of Land at the junction of West Malling Bypass and land south of
the London Road, Leybourne; and
2.         to delegate
authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with
the Deputy Leader, to finalise the terms of the disposal and
execution of all necessary or desirable documentation required to
implement the above.