The Property Sub-Committee of Staffordshire Council met on 8 January 2025 and approved recommendations for granting leases to two academies and for a lease of a property in Cannock.

Proposed Leases to Academies

The committee approved the granting of separate 125-year leases to two schools: St Bartholomew's C of E (C) School in Longnor, Buxton, and St Leonard's C of E (A) First School in Ipstones. These leases are for the playing fields of the respective schools and will be granted at a peppercorn rent. This is a standard requirement from the Department of Education when schools convert to academies, and the consent of the Secretary of State is required before the leases can be completed. The leases are expected to have no negative financial or operational implications for the County Council, as the responsibility for maintenance will transfer to the academies. The community impact is expected to be neutral, with the schools continuing to operate as normal. The Moorlands Primary Federation is the academy trust that will be taking on the leases.

Lease of 5 Victoria Street, Cannock

Approval was given to grant a rent lease for the property at 5 Victoria Street, Cannock, to Chase Recovery until 31 March 2029. This lease will be coterminous with the Section 75 agreement¹ and the property will be used for delivering drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. The final terms of the lease are to be delegated to the Assistant Director for Commercial and Assets. Local member comments were received in support of this application.

The property was previously used for day services but was declared surplus due to its size and limited options for expansion. The market value of the property was estimated at £220,000. By granting a lease at a peppercorn rent, the council will save approximately £15,000 per year in current contribution costs for temporary locations. The estimated market rent for the accommodation is £8,500 per annum, meaning the council will save £6,500 per annum in property costs alone.

Chase Recovery is a community organisation that is part of the Staffordshire Recovery and Treatment Service (STaRS) partnership, which is a flagship Section 75 Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Partnership. They intend to use the building as a recovery hub to promote recovery from addiction, improve health and wellbeing, develop support networks, foster community-based opportunities, and reduce stigma. The organisation has experience in establishing similar hubs and is committed to undertaking any necessary decoration and modifications at no cost to the council.

Securing appropriate premises for treatment services in Cannock has been a challenge, and the Cannock district has the highest number of open and active cases for drug and alcohol treatment services within the county. Consultation with various stakeholders, including the Public Health SLT, Portfolio Holder, Section 75 Partners, and Cannock Chase District Council, has confirmed support for the proposal. A break clause is to be included in the lease, allowing for termination in the event of poor performance or antisocial behaviour impacting the wider community.