Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 28 August 2024
Back to Community Asset Transfer Sub-committee — 28 August 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, 28 August 2024 13:00 Microsoft Teams Meeting, Present: Councillor Michelle Campbell, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor John Shaw Chair Councillor Campbell, Convener, presided. In Attendance S Inrig, Programme Manager – Community Asset Transfer & Regeneration (Chief Executive's Service); and N Young, Assistant Managing Solicitor (Litigation & Advice) and E Gray, Senior Committee 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 Councillor Campbell declared an interest in item 3 by reason of her being the Chair of Erskine Arts who had submitted the application. Councillor Campbell indicated that as she had declared an interest she would withdraw from the meeting during any discussion and voting on the item. Sederunt Councillor Campbell proposed that following her vacating the Chair, Councillor Nicolson would assume the Chair. This was agreed unanimously. Transparency Statements There were no transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
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1 Extension of CAT Lease – Howwood Park Pavilion There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the extension of the lease granted in favour of Friends of Howwood Park Limited for Howwood Park Pavilion under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (the Act). 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 Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board approved a Community Asset Transfer lease of the Howwood Park Pavilion for 10 years to the Friends of Howwood Park on the 27 of January 2021. Following the commencement of the lease in March 2024 the group enquired about extending their lease from 10 to 20 years to provide them with greater security and tenure when seeking additional funding. The request was initially considered by the Council's CAT Officer Panel on 29 July 2024 where it was agreed to recommend that this Sub-committee approve the request. DECIDED: (a) That the extension of the lease to Friends of Howwood Park Ltd from 10 to 20 years be approved; and (b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to update the lease on such terms as required to protect the Council’s interests. 2 Community Asset Transfer Request – Calderglen Playing Fields There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a Community Asset Transfer request submitted in respect of the transfer of Calderglen Playing Fields to Calderglen Community Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. 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 June 2024 and sought the sale of the site for £1. The purpose of the application was to allow for the group to maintain the football pitch for their own and wider community use and to develop a training pitch in the bottom section of the field. Following submission of the application, interested parties were entitled to provide written representations. No representations had been received. The application was initially considered by the Council's CAT Officer Panel on 29 July 2024 where it was agreed to recommend that this Sub-committee approve the request.
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DECIDED: (a) That the transfer of Calderglen Playing Fields to Calderglen Community SCIO for the price of £1 offered 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 interests. Declaration of Interest Councillor Campbell, having previously declared an interest in item 3, vacated the Chair, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon. Sederunt Councillor Nicolson assumed the Chair. 3 Community Asset Transfer Request – Land at Erskine Sports Centre There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a Community Asset Transfer request submitted in respect of the transfer of a small plot of land at Erskine Sport Centre to Erskine Arts. 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 June 2024 and sought a 25-year lease of the site at a rate of £0 per annum. The purpose of the application was to allow for the land to be used to create a community garden space that can benefit all users including a COVID memorial seating area and sound garden sculpture work. Following submission of the application, interested parties were entitled to provide written representations. No negative representations had been received. The application was initially considered by the Council's CAT Officer Panel on 29 July 2024 where it was agreed to recommend that this Sub-committee approve the request. The Assistant Managing Solicitor (Litigation & Advice) provided advice in respect of the recommendations set out at section 2 of the report. The Sub-committee noted that a lease for £0 per annum was not in accordance with law and that a rate of £1 per annum would be more suitable. It was further noted that should the application be approved it should be subject to the completion of Erskine Art's transition to a two-tier structure which would see them become a valid community body under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Councillor Nicolson moved:
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(a) That the Community Asset Transfer request for a long-term lease of the land at Erskine Sports Centre, as set out in the appendix to the report, to Erskine Arts at a rate of £1 per annum, subject to Erskine Arts becoming an eligible Community Transfer Body under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, be approved; and (b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to conclude the lease 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 Community Asset Transfer request for a long-term lease of the land at Erskine Sports Centre, as set out in the appendix to the report, to Erskine Arts at a rate of £1 per annum, subject to Erskine Arts becoming an eligible Community Transfer Body under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, be approved; and (b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to conclude the lease of the asset in accordance with the Act and on such terms as required to protect the Council’s interest.