CAT Minute 240124
Renfrewshire Council · 20 March 2024
Back to Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board — 20 March 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Community Asset Transfer Sub-committee Date Time Venue Wednesday, 24 January 2024 13:00 Microsoft Teams Meeting, Present: Councillor Michelle Campbell, Councillor John Gray, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Andy Steel Chair Councillor Campbell, Convener, presided. In Attendance A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development Services and S Inrig, Programme Manager – Community Asset Transfer & Regeneration (both Chief Executive's Service); and N Young, Assistant Managing Solicitor (Litigation & Advice) and E Gray, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Cunningham, Committee & Licensing Services Officer (both Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Sub-committee would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
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Transparency Statements Councillor Nicolson declared a connection in respect of Item 2 - CAT Request for Erskine Community Allotments, Barhill Road, Erskine PA8 6EZ - by reason of having had correspondence with the applicant around the process to be followed for a Community Asset Transfer. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare and intimated that it was his intention to remain in the meeting and take part in any discussion or voting thereon. 1 CAT Request for Management Rights for Part of the Site known as Mansfield, Manse Crescent, Houston PA6 7EG There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a Community Asset Transfer request submitted in respect of the transfer of part of the site known as Mansfield, Manse Crescent, Houston. The application was set out in full as an appendix to the report. The report provided an overview to Community Asset Transfer (CAT) legislation, the site, the applicant and the Council's process for determining applications. The CAT request was validated on 24 November 2023 and sought the transfer of management rights for the site. The purpose of the application was to allow for the orchard which had been planted by the applicant, Bee Happy, to be extended with view to providing fruit and nut trees and shrubs creating a peaceful area for local people to enjoy. The applicant had not proposed a payment for the management rights. Following submission of the application, interested parties were entitled to provide written representations. No representations were received. The application was initially considered by the Council's CAT Officer Panel on 11 December 2023 where it was agreed to recommend that this Sub-committee approve the request. Councillor Campbell moved: (a) That the request for the transfer of management rights for part of the site, as indicated in the appendix to the report, be approved; and (b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to develop and agree an appropriate licence for the management of the asset in accordance with the Act and on such terms as required to protect the Council’s interest. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: (a) That the request for the transfer of management rights for part of the site, as indicated in the appendix to the report, be approved; and
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(b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to develop and agree an appropriate licence for the management of the asset in accordance with the Act and on such terms as required to protect the Council’s interest. 2 CAT Request for Erskine Community Allotments, Barhill Road, Erskine PA8 6EZ There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a Community Asset Transfer request submitted in respect of the transfer of Erskine Community Allotments. The application was set out in full as an appendix to the report. The report provided an overview to Community Asset Transfer (CAT) legislation, the site, the applicant and the Council's process for determining applications. The CAT request was validated on 24 November 2023 and sought the transfer of ownership of the site to the applicant, Erskine Allotments SCIO. The purpose of the application was to secure the future of the allotment site and to increase the number of allotments available enabling an additional 24 people to have experience of an allotment and reduce the waiting list. The applicant had offered to pay £1 for the site. Following submission of the application, interested parties were entitled to provide written representations. Two representations were received and these were detailed in Section 6.14 of the report. The application was initially considered by the Council's CAT Officer Panel on 11 December 2023 where it was agreed to recommend that this Sub-committee approve the request. Councillor Campbell moved: (a) That the request for the transfer of ownership of the site at the discount price of £1 to Erskine Allotments SCIO be approved; and (b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to conclude the sale of the asset in accordance with the Act and on such terms as required to protect the Council’s interest. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: (a) That the request for the transfer of ownership of the site at the discount price of £1 to Erskine Allotments SCIO be approved; and (b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to conclude the sale of the asset in accordance with the Act and on such terms as required to protect the Council’s interest.