Purpose

Proposed decision:
 
 The Deputy Leader
to agree to:
 

1.   
Approve the sale of the property for £1.523m under the
auction terms and conditions;
 

2.   
Confirm the Director of Infrastructure’s decision under
delegated authority to dispose of the property known as Gravesend
Adult Education Centre, Darnley Road, Gravesend DA11 0RX, noting
that the property’s performance at auction exceeded the
delegated limit underpinning the original disposal plan; and
 

3.   
Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in
consultation with the Deputy Leader, to finalise the sale and take
other actions including but not limited to, entering into relevant
contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement this
decision
 
 
Reason for the
decision:
 
Under competitive tension, as part of an
auction sale, the property sold for a figure exceeding the
£1m threshold and so now requires a key decision, which was
not previously anticipated. Due to the timescales involved in the
property transaction an urgent key decision is sought.
 
Background
 
The former Gravesend Adult Education Centre,
Darnley Road, Gravesend DA11 0RX had been approved for sale via
delegated management of the property portfolio, in accordance with
the Asset Disposal Policy. Authority was in place to support the
sale via auction of the property as the price was expected to fall
well within the normal delegated limits under the Property
Management Protocol. The property went to auction on the 11
December 2025. The hammer price achieved was £1,523,000,
exceeding the limits of the £1m officer delegation; urgent
authority is needed to regularise the governance position in
respect of the previous delegated decision. Due to the timescales
involved the decision is following the urgent decision pathway.
 
Options (other
options considered but discarded)
 
This is a decision to regularise KCC’s
Governance requirements. Not doing so would render the delegated
decision that this refers to ultra vires.
 
How the proposed
decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement
 
The proposed decision supports the
Council’s Strategic Statement by raising capital for
reinvestment to enable KCC to deliver improvements to visible
community and infrastructure services, whilst also streamlining
KCC’s property portfolio, contributing towards the reduction
of KCCs’ debt burden and releasing monies back into front
line services.

Decision

As Deputy Leader, I agree to:
 

1.   
Approve the sale of the property for £1.523m under the
auction terms and conditions;
 

2.   
Confirm the Director of Infrastructure’s decision under
delegated authority to dispose of the property known as Gravesend
Adult Education Centre, Darnley Road, Gravesend DA11 0RX, noting
that the property’s performance at auction exceeded the
delegated limit underpinning the original disposal plan; and
 

3.   
Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in
consultation with the Deputy Leader, to finalise the sale and take
other actions including but not limited to, entering into relevant
contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement this
decision.