Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction). The report outlines the need to bring forward the site for development as part of the overall regeneration objectives for Tottenham.

Cabinet considered a report, presented by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction, which sought agreement to the disposal of the Welbourne Centre site.

Exempt information pertaining to the report was considered under Item 21 of the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the disposal of the Welbourne Centre site, in pursuance of the Council’s regeneration objectives, be approved.

Alternative Options Considered

In June 2008 Cabinet fully considered the option of retention prior to deciding to release the site for redevelopment and this was again considered in 2009 when Cabinet decided to defer disposal in the light of the property market at the time.

Following agreement of a vacation date with the current occupants and having received advice on the property market, the previous options have been reviewed. Given the strategic importance of the site together with the poor condition of the building and under utilisation of the site, retention of the building is not recommended. Retention as a community centre (whether managed by the Council or leased) would prevent realisation of greater benefits for the community and represent poor use of public assets as well as being uneconomic and unsustainable.

Reasons for Decision

The Council has previously agreed a long term aim for the disposal of this site, the community centre situated within it having reached the end of its useful life. The upcoming vacation of the centre combined with improved market conditions and the impetus for regeneration from the relevant Master Plans mean that the conditions are now right for disposal to proceed.