(Report of Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer)

Further to Decision No D170016CAB, the report presented the responses received to the notices advertising the intended disposal of open space land at River Lawn Road, Tonbridge.  The Cabinet was also invited to consider the petition submitted by “Keep River Lawn Green” in respect of the intended disposal following its presentation at the meeting of the full Council on 11 July 2017 when oral representations from the petition organisers had been heard (Minute C 17/53 refers).

The report summarised and commented upon the responses made to the statutory notices, details of which were set out at Annex 5 to the report.  The Cabinet was advised that an application from the Barden Road Residents Association to register the open space land as an Asset of Community Value had been accepted on 21 August 2017.  Whilst its inclusion in the register of Assets of Community Value would not preclude the Council from seeking to dispose of the land, the implications of the registration were explained.

Considerable discussion ensued and the Cabinet heard the views of Local Members and other Councillors.  Reference was made to the significant financial challenges facing the Council and the need to take difficult decisions to support the continued delivery of services throughout the Borough.  It was noted that the proposed sale of the land at River Lawn would contribute to the adopted Savings and Transformation Strategy which sought to consider opportunities to realise capital and/or increase income streams from the Council’s existing asset base.

After careful consideration the Cabinet resolved that:

The disposal of the open space land at River Lawn Road, Tonbridge be agreed subject to any process arising from the inclusion of the land on the register of Assets of Community Value.

[Councillor Mrs M Heslop wished it to be recorded that she had voted against the disposal of the land.]