The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investment presented the report but updated the Cabinet on its contents.  He introduced the Strategic Head of Property & Commercial who had worked on this matter and advised that as part of the due diligence process, officers had found that the land adjacent to 9 Pound Lane should not be within the Council’s ownership.  Although it was  registered in the Council’s name, it had been established that the land should have been transferred to Sevenoaks Town Council following the reorganisation of local government between 1972-1974. The Council was now seeking to transfer the land to Sevenoaks Town Council.

Officers had also considered other options for the disposal of the land to the rear of Sealcroft Cottages, and had proposed that an updated report be presented at a later meeting of Cabinet once further due diligence had been completed in order to consider if further benefits could be obtained from the land’s disposal.

He advised that the Finance & Investment Advisory Committee had considered the same report and had endorsed the updated recommendations.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That

a)   a further report be presented to Cabinet to approve the terms of the disposal of Land to the Rear of Sealcroft Cottages, following additional due diligence being undertaken to establish if further benefits can be derived from the sale of this land; and

b)   the transfer of the parcel of land at 9 Pound Lane, Sevenoaks to Sevenoaks Town Council be noted.