Purpose

The
Council Plan sets
out the Council’s ambition to minimise the burden of local
taxation, delivering the agreed priorities for residents within the
approved budget and capital programme. The Council maintains
an
Asset Management Policy and
Strategy that details how the
Council’s Assets will be managed and developed to deliver
against the targets within the Council Plan.   An objective of the Asset Management
Strategy is to acquire, manage, maintain and dispose of property
effectively, efficiently and sustainably, together with optimising
financial and commercial opportunities.
 
Queen Elizabeth II Silver
Jubilee (QE2) School in Horsham is a Special School for young
people aged 2 to 19 with severe or profound and multiple learning
difficulties. Due to the growing demand in West Sussex for
additional pupil places for children with these areas of need it is
proposed to create a satellite provision for secondary-aged and
post-16 pupils at QE2 school.
 
An opportunity to take the
lease of a building in Horsham has arisen which can provide a
solution.  The building for which a
lease is proposed is Arun House, Hurst Road, Horsham, West Sussex
RH12 2DN.  The freehold estate is owned
by Horsham District Council (HDC) and is available for WSCC to
lease for a term of 10 years with the earliest tenant-only break
clause after 5 years.
 
 

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance
and Property in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People,
Learning and Skills has approved that:

(1) The County Council enters into a conditional
agreement for lease and, provided that the conditions are met, then
enters into a lease for Arun House, Hurst Road, Horsham, West
Sussex RH12 2DN, subject to agreement and final terms, as set out
in the report (Appendix A restricted for members
only); and

 

(2) Authority is delegated to the Assistant Director
(Property and Assets) in conjunction with the Director of Law and
Assurance to negotiate, agree and conclude the terms of both the
agreement for lease and the lease.