Purpose

The Cabinet considered a report
recommending the disposal of two surplus property assets: the
former Adult Education Centre at Tivoli Road, Margate, and the
former depot at Pierremont Park, Broadstairs. The report also
recommended the Community Asset Transfer of the Broadstairs War
Memorial to Broadstairs and St. Peter's Town Council. The disposal
of the two surplus assets is proposed to generate a capital receipt
of at least £1.25 million, which is essential for funding the
approved Capital Programme as set out in the Medium Term Financial
Plan.

Decision

Cabinet agreed the following:
 
1. 
To approve the open market disposal of The Tivoli Road asset;
 
2. 
Not to approve the disposal of Pierremont Park Depot by public
auction and to exclude the access road from any disposal;
 
3. 
To support a recommendation to transfer the Broadstairs War
Memorial, adjacent to Pierremont Park, to Broadstairs and St.
Peter’s Town Council at nil value.

Reasons for the decision

The two sites at Tivoli Road
and Pierremont Park Depot are currently unused and vacant, costing
the council money for maintenance and security. Disposing of these
surplus assets will mitigate the financial and health and safety
risks associated with their retention, and generate crucial capital
receipts needed to fund the council's capital program. The
Community Asset Transfer of the Broadstairs War Memorial is
supported because the Town Council is considered better placed to
act as an effective custodian of this locally important
memorial.
 
The amendment to the Pierremont
Park Depot disposal was made to ensure the method of disposal is
not by public auction, and to specifically exclude the access road
from the freehold transfer. The land to be sold is defined as the
area from the first set of gates inwards and the brownfield second
gated former depot, with rights to access the site over the
path.

Alternative options considered

The options to retain the
properties, seek alternative planning consents, or transfer them
for community use were all rejected because they would be
financially imprudent, fail to generate the necessary capital funds
for the council, and would not address the significant risks posed
by the vacant and dilapidated sites.