Decision details

In accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair of the Corporate Policy Committee had agreed that this item could be considered as an item of urgent business as it could not wait until the next scheduled meeting of the Finance Sub Committee to enable a decision to be made in relation to the sale of the land.

The committee considered the urgent report in relation to the appropriation of land at Hall Moss Farm, Handforth, which was currently held for smallholdings under the Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908 but was no longer required for that purpose. The land, historically intended for ex?servicemen, had been vacant for several years and was now subject to a negotiated long lease with a neighbouring sporting body. The committee noted that appropriation under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 was required to change the land’s statutory use to general purposes, enabling the lease to proceed lawfully and allowing the Council to realise a significant capital receipt.

The committee queried the length of the lease, capital receipt and anticipated provision for the site in the future. Officers committed to providing a confidential written response.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Corporate Policy Committee

1.    Confirm that the land shown edged red on the plan at Appendix A of the report, that was currently held for smallholdings is no longer required for these purposes and approve the appropriation of the land for general purposes in accordance with section 122(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.