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Issue - meetings

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Meeting: 29/04/2021 - Executive (Item 5)

5 Devolution of Hermitage Green (EX4006) pdf icon PDF 435 KB

Purpose: To consider Hermitage Parish Council's request for the leasehold transfer, and all future maintenance responsibility, of Hermitage Green open space including the playground.

Decision:

Resolved that the land be transferred to Hermitage Parish Council on a long lease of at least 75 years.

 

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 7 May 2021, then it will be implemented.

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 6) concerning the request from Hermitage Parish Council for the leasehold transfer, and all future maintenance responsibility, of Hermitage Green open space including the playground.

Councillor Richard Somner stated that this was the final stage in the joint discussion with Hermitage Parish Council. The Heads of Terms Agreement was in place with both organisations and there was broad agreement to provide a 75 year lease to the Parish for the area of land. With the transfer of the land went a small amount of financial contribution from Community Developer monies that was just slightly over £11,000. There was a planned capital cost of £8,000 required to deal with safety surface defects prior to transfer.

This transfer of land would enable the parish to adopt and manage this area according to their local needs and with their local community and Councillor Somner confirmed that he was happy to propose the recommendation.

Councillor Hilary Cole endorsed what had been said by Councillor Somner. It was the wish of Hermitage Parish Council to take over the management of this land and she was fully supportive of it.

RESOLVED that the land be transferred to Hermitage Parish Council (HPC) on a long lease of at least 75 years.

Other options considered: None. The principle of devolution of open space and built assets to local councils has already been established, most notably the arrangements currently in place with Thatcham Town Council. This proposal, alongside other devolution projects, supports West Berkshire Council’s commitment to locally-led service delivery.