Decision details

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet approves the freehold purchase of land known as Tice’s Meadow, Farnham, dependent on receipt of 45% of the purchase price from a consortium of key partners, as previously agreed. The purchase price and transaction costs are commercially sensitive at this time and are set out in the Part 2 report.

2. That Cabinet delegates authority to the Director of Land and Property and the Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Property, to conclude contracts and completion and to recover agreed capital contributions from its key partners. The capital contributions are commercially sensitive at this time and are set out in the Part 2 report.

3. That Cabinet agrees that Surrey County Council takes over as lead accountable body for the Aftercare and Management Scheme, in partnership with its public sector partners and approved private bodies.

4. That Cabinet notes that Surrey County Council will become responsible for the Aftercare Management Scheme as set out in paragraph 8 in this report, and the associated costs noted in the Part 2 report.

Reasons for Decisions:

It is recommended that Cabinet approves Surrey County Council purchasing land in Farnham as set out in the Part 2 report. The land is a former quarry which has been restored and remains subject to a 20-year management plan for its enhancement and protection delivered in partnership with Waverley Borough Council, Farnham Town Council, Guildford Borough Council, and both Hampshire County Council and Rushmoor Borough Council, supporting the Blackwater Valley Partnership.

The purchase of land, on behalf of its local authority partners, protects against the risk of a private purchaser taking over and seeking to reduce public access or amenity benefit, and also averts the risk of land disposal possibly into small parcels that would make future purchase potentially more complex and expensive.

The Council’s Natural Capital Estate provides 10,000 acres of high-quality landscape and recreational space. However, in Waverley open space of this kind is currently limited, so the purchase of this land provides an ideal opportunity to expand space available for residents and visitors. The area complements Surrey’s existing land ownership known as Tongham Pool to the immediate east, and the Blackwater Valley Way (owned by Rushmore Borough Council) which sits along the northern boundary. It will also provide the opportunity for a number of circular walks within the site, and an additional attraction for visitors to explore wildlife and the natural environment.

Since the landscape quality of the site as a quarry was very low, there is a high net biodiversity value to be gained from active management of the site to maximise value delivered by the new wetland, woodland and grasslands.

By approving the purchase of the land Surrey County Council will support both its public sector partner authorities and the Greener Futures priority objectives.

(This item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]