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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
CABINET MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF
ENVIRONMENT &
REGULATORY SERVICES
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Tim Jefferson –
Environment Facilities Manager Date: 02 June
2011
1. MAIDSTONE CEMETERY – THE SUPERVISOR’S HOUSE
1.1 Issue for Decision
1.1.1 To agree the freehold disposal of The Supervisor’s House and garden (the property), at the Maidstone Cemetery.
1.2 Recommendation of the Assistant Director of Environment & Regulatory Services
1.2.1
It
is recommended that:
i)
the
property, as shown on the plan attached as Appendix A, is declared non
operational;
ii)
the
Director of Change, Planning and the Environment be authorised to place a
public notice pursuant to Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 in
respect of the disposal of open space and that any objections or
representations which might be received in response to the advertisement be considered
by the Cabinet Member for Environment;
iii)
the
final decision on disposal be made when the property has been advertised as a
disposal of open space and any representations have been considered.
1.3 Reasons for Recommendation
1.3.1
The
property is located adjacent to the cemetery car park and access is currently
via the main entrance gates to the cemetery. The
property has an extensive garden and the rear boundary wall backs onto Pheasant
Lane with another boundary adjacent to the cemetery grounds.
1.3.2
The
property was originally provided as an on site residence for the cemetery
supervisor. The supervisor retired approximately ten years ago, but remained in
the property fulfilling a gate locking duty. The property is now vacant and the
gate locking duties have been absorbed into the general operation and
management of the site and there is no specific need identified for an on-site
employee.
1.3.3
The
building is a Hawthorn Leslie steel framed detached house with an integral
garage. These buildings were developed in the mid 1960’s and are basic in
design and in quality of construction. The cemetery house is not in a good
condition and it would require considerable funds to bring it up to an
acceptable modern condition and this is considered uneconomical.
1.3.4
Consequently,
as there is no operational requirement for the property it is considered that
disposal of the property's freehold by way of a private treaty arrangement would
be the best option at the earliest opportunity to avoid any on going
maintenance issues , subject to:
- the consideration for any response to a Section 123 (Local Government
Act 1972) public notice advertising the intention to dispose of public
open space;
- appropriate consents for the disposal/demolition being obtained;
- the production of a development brief.
1.3.5 It is envisaged that any development brief would include the demolition of the house and consideration for a number of dwellings to be built on the available land and for access to be achieved via Pheasant Lane or by realigning the main entrance to the cemetery.
1.4 Alternative Action and why not Recommended
1.4.1
The
property occupies land that adjoins the cemetery and one alternative for its
use would be to demolish the house and integrate the land holding into the
cemetery to provide burial space in the future. The potential future demand
for grave space at the cemetery has been reviewed and based on the present
usage trends and the number of available new grave plots indicates that there
is a minimum of fifty years space available. There is also the likelihood that
within this time frame burial legislation will change due to the acute
shortages experienced, especially in the London boroughs, to allow other ways
to extend the use of the current land bank in cemeteries therefore removing the
need for burial authorities to provide more ground for burial in the future. It
is not considered necessary, or appropriate, at this time to secure the land
for future burial use.
1.4.2
Currently
there is a wooden site hut located in the cemetery close to the main entrance
and car park. This hut is used as the base for the Maidstone Borough Services
ground staff working in the cemetery. The hut provides very basic facilities
and does not have any mains drainage. Upgrading this facility, or providing an
alternative, would be desirable although this is estimated to cost in excess of
£50,000. However, it is not considered that the Supervisor’s house would be a
suitable alternative due to the problems reported above and the potentially
high cost to undertake the necessary upgrading.
1.5 Impact on Corporate Objectives
1.5.1
The
disposal of the Property and the eventual development of new modern properties
would support the strategic priority outcome to provide decent affordable
housing in the right places across a range of tenures.
1.6 Risk Management
1.6.1
The
risks associated with making this decision are:
There could be some objections from the community after seeing the advert to
dispose of public open space for housing development rather than retaining the
land as open space. However, there are large areas of public
open space in close proximity to this area, i.e. South Park, and Mote Park is
approximately ½ mile away. It would be reasonable therefore to make any
objectors aware of all of these areas.
The development of the property would benefit from access being from Pheasant
Lane, but there is a risk that the highway authority may not allow this
alternative access point. Every effort will be made prior to disposal to
satisfy any concerns that might compromise this access being agreed through the
production of a development brief.
1.7 Other Implications
1.7.1
1. Financial
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X |
2. Staffing
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3. Legal
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4. Social Inclusion
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5. Environmental/Sustainable Development
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6. Community Safety
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7. Human Rights Act
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8. Procurement
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9. Asset Management
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X |
1.7.2
Financial
implications:
If the property is eventually disposed of then the council will receive a
capital sum. It may be appropriate for some consideration to be made to
improving the staff facilities on site from the funds received.
Another consideration will be the loss of the rent (£5,990) from the property and
this will need to be adjusted for as a growth item in the current and future
years’ revenue budget. It is envisaged that this shortfall can be covered from
the anticipated additional income from new memorial sales within Bereavement
Services.
Associated revenue costs for repairs would be saved if the property is disposed
of.
1.7.3
Asset
management implications:
The freehold disposal of the property will result in a reduction in the
council’s portfolio of properties.
1.8 Background Documents
1.8.1
Cemetery
burial records – held in the Bereavement Services office at the Vinters Park
Crematorium.
NO REPORT WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT THIS BOX BEING COMPLETED
Is this a Key Decision? Yes No
If yes, when did it appear in the Forward Plan? _______________________
X
Reason for Urgency
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How
to Comment Should
you have any comments on the issue that is being considered please contact
either the relevant Officer or the Member of the Executive who will be
taking the decision. Cllr
Marion Ring Cabinet Member for Environment
Telephone: 01622 686492
E-mail : marionring@maidstone.gov.uk Tim
Jefferson Environment Facilities Manager
Telephone: 01622 602121
Email: timjefferson@maidstone.gov.uk