Appendix B

OFFICER ASSESSMENT

Silloth Town Council for the Railway Playing Field, land adjacent to the former Fisons site, land beside the old Gas Works, Skiddaw Street and The Hollow, Liddell Street Former

Officer Team Lynn Singleton, Area Engagement Officer AllerdaleLizzy Shaw, Area Manager AllerdaleDavid Rawle, Senior Estates SurveyorDavid Wiggins, Investment SurveyorKarl Melville, Senior Manager, Network ManagementJohn Mallinson, Solicitor, Environment & CommunityFiona Parker, Finance ManagerGeorgina Ternent,Policy & Scrutiny Project Officer

Background detail

Silloth Town Council is currently responsible for several green spaces within the town, including the recently refurbished Silloth Green area. These areas are maintained by the Town councils own grounds maintenance staff and the four parcels of land identified in this transfer would be similarly maintained to the same standards

Current Projects None

Current and planned works programme

No planned maintenance or works improvement planned other than any reactive repairs that are required to allow operation whilst still under Council ownership.

Organisation

Silloth Town Council

The case for asset transfer

Appendix B

The transfer of the identified land to Silloth Town Council provides an opportunity to improve facilities in the area and ensure that green space is protected and maintained to a high standard.

The Town Council working in partnership with the well-established local sports association will improve the facilities available at Railway Playing Fields and are planning to extend the range and activities that can be supported on that site

A footpath linking a new housing development to the town centre has been identified and negotiations with the developer are advancing.

The remaining green space with the town will be enhanced and protected for ongoing community use

Community support

The Town council has the backing of the local community in its plans for the identified land, as evidenced by the partnership working with local community organisations and the support it both gives and receives for programme of community events that run within the town throughout the year.

Legal issues

None other than to confirm that Legal will ensure that the protections suggested by the Property Team in the comments below are put in place at the time of the transfers.

Financial Issues

There are no financial issues presented by these transfers. The Town Council will use precept for on-going maintenance and working in partnership with local voluntary organisations and sports clubs make applications to grant making trust to improve and enhance facilities.

Equality Implications

Disability and Health & Well Being – No issues Gender, Transgender and Marital Status – No issues Ethnicity – No issues Sexual orientation – No issues Age – No issues Religion/belief – No issues Socio-Economic Status – Will enable investment in community throughnew/

improved path and improved play facilities Community Cohesion – Playing fields transfer means sports facilities can be

improved increasing opportunities for community members

Appendix B

Property issues

The County Council holds these four areas of land in Silloth as part of their property portfolio. None are considered operational for County Council purposes.

Area One – The Railway Playing Fields (2.83ha/7.0ac)

Title to this plot includes the Playing Fields, a small rectangle of land adjacent to Silloth on Solway Golf Club and an un-adopted section of metalled road to the rear of Station Mews. Silloth Town Council, who are already the long-term tenant of this plot, will take complete freehold title to include any covenant to maintain the un-adopted highway which is presently in good condition. The County Council will impose a covenant restricting the use of the plot to that of amenity land and recreational use only and will also attach overage provisions to the transfer to ensure the County Council receives 100% of any uplift in the value of the land resulting from the granting of a planning consent for non-amenity land development.

Area Two – Land Adjacent to the Former Fisons Factory Site (0.25ha/0.6ac)

This plot is a stub of the former railway line to the East of the B5302 road bridge. Its origins in County Council ownership, in common with Plot One, are not entirely clear. The County Council is aware of the imminent redevelopment of the Former Fisons Factory site to provide a residential housing estate. In conjunction with the Developer and Silloth Town Council, Cumbria County Council entered into a Section 106 Agreement in 2011/12 to provide a new general purpose pedestrian/cycle access route from the housing development into the town centre as one of the conditions for granting planning consent. Maintenance of the route on completion of the scheme will become the responsibility of Silloth Town Council.

Consideration has been given to the potential capital value of this plot. Theoretically, if the access route was pushed to the North of the site it may be possible for the Southern portion to become developable and thus have an impact on the capital value. The County Council would not wish this to happen and generation of a capital receipt for the transferee is not the purpose of Community Asset Transfers. The County Council will impose a covenant restricting the use of the plot to that of amenity land and recreational use only and will also attach overage provisions to the transfer to ensure the County Council receives 100% of any uplift in the value of the land resulting from the granting of a planning consent for non-amenity land development.

Area Three – Land beside the old gas works at Skiddaw Street (0.26ha/0.6ac)

This is an area of maintained amenity grassland. The plot has very limited future development potential but in any event the County Council will look to impose a covenant restricting the use of the plot to that of amenity land and recreational use only and will also attach overage provisions to the transfer to ensure the County Council receives 100% of any uplift in the value of the land resulting from the granting of a planning consent for non-amenity land development.

Area Four – Land at The Hollow on the former Liddell Street (0.65ha/1.6ac)

Appendix B

This again is an open area of amenity grassland. It is located between the B5302 (Petteril Street) and Silloth School. Cumbria County Council’s title includes the land and surfaced area on Liddell Terrace together with an Electricity Sub Station. The County Council would look to transfer their whole title to this plot but would wish to reserve access rights for all purposes across the Northern boundary of the plot to protect the interests of the Council in the event of any future development of its retained land. This area of reserved access rights is shown by hatching on the Appendix A plan. As with the other plots, the County Council will impose a covenant restricting the use of the plot to that of amenity land and recreational use only and will also attach overage provisions to the transfer to ensure the County Council receives 100% of any uplift in the value of the land resulting from the granting of a planning consent for non-amenity land development.

Policy Issues

The transfer would be in line with Council policy on Community Asset Transfer, Disposal and Strategic Asset Management Plan.

Local Member views and Area Team considerations

Views were sought from Allerdale Local Committee on 3 March 2015 and the transfer was fully supported. The Local Member also supports the transfer.

Organisation and planning for the future

The Town Council intends to ensure all future improvements and maintenance provision are of a high standard.

Summary and conclusion

The transfers of these assets, in the case of the Railway Playing fields, will provide the town will improved sports facilities and secures them for the future. By transferring the other areas of land, the Town Council takes on the responsibility and relieves the County council of any future liability.

Appendix B

SITE PLAN – THE RAILWAY PLAYING FIELDS AND LAND ADJACENT TO THE FORMER FISONS SITE, LAND BESIDE THE OLD GAS WORKS, SKIDDAW STREET

Appendix B

SITE PLAN – THE HOLLOW, LIDDELL STREET