Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

14 April 2005

Old School Building, Cannon Street, Lymington

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

(Summary of CONFIDENTIAL decision)

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

That:

i)

Approval be given to the disposal of the Old School Building, Cannon Street, Lymington to Swaythling Housing Society for an affordable housing scheme on the basis set out in the report, the scheme to include an element of key worker housing, with nomination rights granted to Hampshire County Council; and

ii)

the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be authorised to settle detailed terms for the disposal and approve the design of the scheme to be implemented; and

iii)

approval be given to the use of part of the income in the 2004/5 budget from reducing the Council Tax discount on second homes to provide a subsidy for the key worker units to the maximum sum quoted in the report, if required.

2

Reasons

2.1

To rationalise landholdings following the construction of the new Lymington Library and generate a much needed capital receipt, part of which has previously been committed towards the development of sports facilities at the Recreation Centre, Priestlands School, Pennington.

2.2

This decision supports the following Aims of the Corporate Strategy:

Aim 1 - Maximising life opportunities by enabling the provision of a significant amount of affordable housing on this site, including an element of key worker housing.

Aim 2 - Stewardship of the environment by securing the provision of a high quality development scheme on this prominent central site.

Aim 5 - Improving services by securing the provision of affordable and key worker housing in an area of proven need, together with a capital receipt to be used for other service improvements, including the development of leisure facilities at the Lymington Recreation Centre.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

The sale of the site for other purposes.

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1

None declared

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

None

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1

Not applicable

Approved by:

..........................

Date of decision:

.........................

Councillor T K Thornber