Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

RESOLVED THAT

1.    Authority be delegated to the Head of Property in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance to dispose of the land required by Western Power in consultation with the Project sponsor for the Crematorium Project upon such terms as he considers necessary or desirable to protect the Council’s interests.

2.    The Borough Solicitor be authorised to conclude such documents reflecting the agreement reached by the Head of Property and Asset Management as she considers appropriate

The Cabinet Member Finance introduced the report and explained that the proposed crematorium to the rear of the current site at Bouncers Lane required electricity. Wilmot Dixon, Project Manager had worked closely with Western Power and the council to find the best way to facilitate power to the proposed Crematorium. She explained that as a new track would be built to facilitate a one way traffic system for the crematorium on Priors Farm, it was deemed that ducting and power cables could be laid into this track and therefore provide the least disruptive option to the current operation of the Cemetery and Crematorium. She referred Members to the plan showing the proposed Easement for the electricity cable at appendix 2.

The Cabinet Member explained that Priors Farm had areas of scrubland and playing field as well as low grade agricultural land which was all considered Public Open Space. Laying the cables and recording it on the title for the Property, by way of an easement, legally acknowledged the right for the cables to be there and to remain undisrupted. It also provided Western Power with legal rights to access the land to resolve any issues in relation to supply. This would still require notification to the Council if any works were required and any damage to be made good. Transferring a section of land to house a substation to Western Power prevented the substation becoming the Councils responsibility and any future maintenance or disruptions to supply due to faults emanating from the substation remained the responsibility of Western Power. The substation was required to regulate the voltage being provided to the Crematorium, and was highlighted on the plan in appendix 2.  Due to the substation being a small above ground structure and to simplify legalities, the land would be transferred to them. The Cabinet Member added that the land was big enough to house the substation, but not large enough to allow other development to occur.

The Cabinet Member went on further to say that as the easement had to be recorded against the property title and as permanent rights were being granted to Western Power, an easement was considered a disposal of public open space which set in motion Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1979. It had therefore been advertised for two consecutive weeks in a Local Newspaper to allow people to comment or object.

Alternative options considered were set out in section 3 of the report.

The Leader confirmed that there had been no objections.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    Authority be delegated to the Head of Property in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance to dispose of the land required by Western Power in consultation with the Project sponsor for the Crematorium Project upon such terms as he considers necessary or desirable to protect the Council’s interests.

2.    The Borough Solicitor be authorised to conclude such documents reflecting the agreement reached by the Head of Property and Asset Management as she considers appropriate