18 TOWN AND PARISH COUNCILS - PRINCIPLES FOR TRANSFER AND DISPOSAL OF ASSETS PDF 138 KB
To consider a report by the Programme Director.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee
considered a report in relation to the principles for transfer of assets to
Town and Parish Councils and other community groups to ensure consistency of
approach. The General Manager - Public Health and Housing, Purbeck District Council,
introduced the cross-authority report and summarised the need to provide
principles and a framework for councils to use when considering the future
transfer of assets, which had followed a period of interest by Town and Parish
Councils to secure assets prior to the start of the new Dorset Council from 1
April 2019. It was also explained that
the approach towards the formation of Weymouth Town Council and the impact on
Portland Town Council would need to have different arrangements.
Clarifications were
also provided that recommendation 1 in the General Manager’s report referred to
paragraph 3.4 of the report and not 3.2 as stated. An amendment to principle (ii) of paragraph
3.4 was also suggested by the General Manager as:
‘Any resolution prior to 26 May 2018 by
sovereign councils to dispose of an asset but not yet legally completed may
continue unless it contradicts these principles.’
At this point a
question was asked at the meeting by Cllr Cheryl Reynolds, in relation to asset
transfers by West Dorset District Council. The question and answer are attached
to these minutes as an annexure.
Three areas of
consideration were raised during the debate on the principles (paragraph 3.4)
which related to:
(i) Transfer of
Assets to Dorset Council Comments
were received about reference to all assets being transferred to Dorset
Council. In particular that the
arrangements needed to establish Weymouth Town Council needed to be defined
clearly, together with the impact upon Portland Town Council as a result of the
new arrangements. As such Cllr Jeff Cant
proposed that the principle be re-worded to read ‘All assets required for the delivery of Council services and those
capable of generating income are transferred to the new unitary Dorset Council,
but the unique circumstances of Weymouth
Town Council and Portland Town Council will be considered separately.’.
The amendment was
seconded by Cllr Daryl Turner. On being
put to the vote the amendment was agreed unanimously.
(ii) Existing
Programme for the Disposal of Assets
Comments were received in relation to the suggested amendment summarised
in the minute above. Concern was expressed by Cllr Antony Alford that the
principle needed to be tightened to explicitly reflect the assets of Town and
Parish Councils only, and he therefore proposed that the wording be amended to
read ‘Any resolution prior to 26 May 2018
by sovereign councils to dispose of an asset to town and parish councils but not yet legally completed may
continue unless it contradicts these principles.’.
The amendment was discussed and points were raised that indicated that the wording should remain unchanged as the principle needed to be open enough for asset transfers to community groups. The wording suggested by the General Manager was therefore proposed by Cllr Jill Haynes and seconded by ... view the full minutes text for item 18