Decision details

Agreed

That it is recommended to Council that:-

(1)        final business case for the transfer of the City Council’s Valley Parks to Devon Wildlife Trust in accordance with the Council’s Organisational Change Policy be approved;

(2)        transfer by lease of land owned and leased by the City Council in Exeter’s Valley Parks, namely Riverside, Ludwell, Mincinglake, Belvedere and Duryard, Barley Valley and Withycombe Way, to Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) for a period of 30 years be approved, with the detailed terms to be agreed by the Corporate Manager Property in consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holder Support Services;

(3)        disposal of land in accordance with the provisions of Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 be advertised;

(4)        principle of the grant of a development agreement and ground lease for a period of 99 years on any land identified between the Council and the Devon Wildlife Trust as suitable for a Visitor Centre be approved;

(5)        a financial contribution of £425,000 to the Devon Wildlife Trust on transfer be approved; and

(6)        principle of the Council making an additional £100,000 contribution in 2022 in the exceptional circumstance where additional investment is required that cannot be found within the Trust’s existing resources be approved, and that an agreement between the Council and the Trust setting out the specific conditions for the additional payment be delegated to the Assistant Director Public Realm, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Place and the Leader of Council.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.