The Chairman welcomed Mark Bradbury the Council’s new Head of Economic Development & Property to the meeting.

The Chief Finance Officer presented a report which updated Members on the Asset Management Plan. A previous update had been presented to the Finance and Resources Advisory Committee on 26 March 2014 and to Cabinet on 10 April 2014 when approval was given in principle to the disposal of several items of land and property. This report advised Members on the outcome of the bids received in respect of the proposed sale of Timberden Farm, Shoreham and contained recommendations for the proposed disposal method of three other sites previously approved for disposal.

The report was split in to two parts: details of the disposal process for Timberden Farm were public and details of the offers for the farm and suggested disposal actions for some other land were in the exempt part of the report. 

The Chief Finance Officer reported that before instructing any agent for Timberden Farm, the Council sought advice from three recognised agricultural agents, each with a lot of experience in selling such holdings. All proposed a reasonably consistent asking price in respect of the farm and their advice as to value reflected not only the quality and steepness of the land, the presence of the farm buildings offering a good base for a farming enterprise but also comparables of recent similar disposals.

Following interviews, Carter Jonas had been appointed as the Council’s agents for the sale of Timberden Farm. Their advice had been to market the farm on the open market for disposal as a whole or in lots with bids invited for the whole in excess of £2.1million. Following this advice, bids were invited to be submitted by 18 November 2014.  Advice had also been sought from an auctioneer on the sale of three of the other lots, who had recommended set reserves for each.

Members noted and considered the relevant minute and the recommendations received from the Finance & Resources Advisory Committee who had considered the same report.

Some concerns had been raised outside of the meeting which had included:  Shoreham Parish Council questioning the professionalism of Carter Jonas as they were telling people that the Council would sell the lot with the farm buildings in it and yet Cabinet had yet to take a decision; that the Council did not buy the farm in lots but as one, and therefore should reconsider how to lot it; and, a need to sort out access and maintenance to the cross.

The Head of Economic Development & Property advised that Richard Liddiard of Carter Jonas had been in discussion with each of the bidders as well as several parties that were expected to bid, and that this had been appropriate in order to inform the advice to be given to the Finance & Resources Advisory Committee and Cabinet.  He had been assured that all bidders had been advised that no decision had yet been taken but that the recommendation was that no bids were accepted at this stage as there was no single bid for all four lots or combination of bids for all lots which could be recommended for acceptance.   Where bids had been significantly below the guide price the bidders had been advised that their bids were not at a level that could be recommended.  One bidder had been advised that their bid (which was above the advertised guide price) was at a level worthy of further consideration but that the recommendation was not to proceed at this stage as the Council was seeking to ensure that an acceptable offer or offers were in place for the whole of the farm before proceeding with sales by lots.  The Head of Economic Development & Property was satisfied that this approach was professional and appropriate in the circumstances to ensure that bidders were kept up to date and also managed the expectations of bidders.

He further advised that the property had been offered for sale at auction in 1990 as four lots which were the same lots as those now offered for sale, and he had been advised that the Council had reached agreement with the vendor to acquire all four lots in a single transaction.

With reference to access to the Cross, this had been agreed from the path to the North.  The Head of Economic Development & Property agreed to amend the map within the marketing particulars to clearly show this access and to exclude from future sales  the small patch of land between the access road and the Cross.

It was moved by the Chairman and

Resolved:  That, under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Appendix C to the report, on the ground that likely disclosure of exempt information was involved as defined by paragraph 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) as identified in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Members discussed the recommendations that were in the confidential appendix.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That, subject to reserve prices as agreed at Finance & Advisory Committee,

                      a)          the outcome of the recent marketing of Timberden Farm be noted, and subject to further review of the market value of the land, the land be remarketed in Spring 2015;

                      b)          the disposal of the land at Viking Way by way of auction on the terms set out in the confidential part of the report, be approved;

                       c)          the disposal of the land rear of 140 Hever Avenue, West Kingsdown by way of auction on the terms set out in the confidential part of the report, be approved; and

                      d)          the disposal of the land rear of Deanery Road, Crockham Hill, Edenbridge, by way of auction on the terms set out in confidential part of the report, be approved however prior to disposal the Council investigate, with the local Town Council, whether the property could be progressed as a rural exception site.