SUTTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 20^th July 2021

Report on Progress of Requests to Purchase Garden Extension Allotments in the South Field Garden Allotment Field (Item 4h)

1                    Your March 2021 meeting decided to obtain valuations for five plots long cultivated by the adjacent house owners and where there had been interest shown in purchasing. The Council wished to see these valuations before deciding to proceed.

2                    Eddisons (formerly Barker Storey Matthews) were instructed accordingly and have produced separate reports for the plots adjoining Nos 2, 4, 6, 10 and 11a Graeme Road. Each value is expressed as a range and the sum of all these could yield an income of £67,500 for the Parish Council.

3                    Eddisons have also recommended that if sale proceeds, that Lawful Development Certificates should be obtained to provide a clarified planning position for each plot. The planning fee for each application would be of the order of £230.

4                    Solicitors (Hegarty’s) have also been instructed to register the land in the name of Sutton Parish Council.  Irrespective of whether the allotment plots are sold this is considered a desirable step to take for the Parish Council as, currently, its only evidence of ownership lies in the original Inclosure documents of 1903.

5               Financial Implications

a)    Eddison’s fees for valuation: £1,250 plus VAT

b)    Hegarty’s fees for registering with the Land Registry: £1,350-£1,750 plus VAT.

c)    Planning fees for Lawful Development Certificates: £1,150 in total.

d)   Solicitor’s fee for conveyancing: £750 plus VAT for each plot (but could be less if purchasers all agree to use the same solicitor as each other).

Recommendations

1                    That the Council decides, on the basis of the valuations obtained whether or not to proceed to offer the plots for sale to the adjacent owners.

2                    That if sale is the chosen course of action, the Parish Council submit applications  for Lawful Development Certificates on each plot.

3                    That, if necessary, steps be taken to terminate the annual tenancy agreement with No 4 Graeme Road over the land rear of No 2.

4                    That, if sales are to proceed, that the costs at 5a, b, and c above be borne by the Parish Council and that the conveyancing fees in 5d be added to the agreed sale  price and be met by the purchasers.

5                    That should addition expenditure need to be incurred it be in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations.

Deirdre McCumiskey

Sutton Parish Clerk

THE SUTTON TOWNLANDS CHARITY A report to the Sutton Parish Council – May 2021. The Sutton Townlands Charity (“the Charity”) is registered with the Charity Commission (registration number 204122) and was formed in the first half of the 19th century “for the benefit of the Poor in Sutton”. Its current charitable purpose is recorded by way of a Notice under the Charities Act of 1985: - “The relief of persons normally resident in the Parish of Sutton who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress….”. The Charity has two trustees (“the Trustees”) Simon Scriven and Anne Grange. The Parish Council appoints each trustee, and his or her re-appointment is subject to Council approval every three years. The fixed assets of the Charity consist of a parcel of land, of approximately 6 acres, to the north of the village adjoining the boundary of Willowhayne. The land is farmed and provides an annual rent to the Charity which is paid in two half-yearly instalments. The financial assets of the Charity comprise: - 1. 1275.13 Units in the COIF Charities Income Fund. The bid market value of one unit as at 31.3.21 was 1790p, giving the Charity’s investment a bid market value at that date of £22,814. 2. The balance of £26,334. (as at 31.3.21) held in a COIF Charities Deposit Fund. 3. A cash balance held with HSBC, standing at £657 at 1.5.21. Dividends from the Income Fund are transferred quarterly to the Deposit Fund. The COIF Income and Deposit funds are managed by CCLA Investment Management Ltd, which is one of the UK’s largest charity fund managers. It is the intention of the Trustees to transfer the Charity’s investment in the Income Fund to the CCLA’s Ethical Investment Fund at the end of May 2021. As its name suggests, the Ethical Fund restricts the scope for investment, for example limiting the amount of investment in companies extracting non-renewable sources of energy. There have been few calls on the Charity’s resources in recent years as, fortunately, there are few residents of Sutton who have suffered genuine need, hardship or distress, but the Charity has each year bought a supply of coal for one resident to provide warmth over winter. There are tight restrictions in the application of the Charity’s funds which need to be observed, and the Trustees hope that given the small size of the village they will become aware of any qualifying causes as they arise. However, they would welcome any information in that respect that the Council may gather from time to time

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LINK TO REGISTER OF INTERESTS OF PARISH COUNCILLORS

https://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?bcr=1