There have been requests for the Council to provide improvements to land in Vaughan Williams Way, and to take on the maintenance of land in an alley way in Tower Hill.

Officers have inspected both sites, and whilst both would deliver an improvement to those in the immediate vicinity, this would become a liability in terms of ongoing maintenance cost.

It has been identified that the alley way in Tower Hill is private land, and the request is for the Council to become responsible for this land, and therefore take full responsibility for the on-going maintenance, and public liability through any insurance claims.  Taking responsibility of the annual maintenance of the alley way in Tower Hill would incur additional revenue costs to the Council of £1,500 per annum, However, this does not include the Officer and legal work that would be required in order to adopt the land.

The capital cost of the work on Vaughan Williams Way would be £6,500, and would incur an annual revenue cost for the additional maintenance of £1,000. 

Through the discussion the Chair requested that an investigation is undertaken by the Asset and Enterprise Committee on the pockets of land within the Borough that have no acknowledged ownership.

A Ward Member spoke in support of this item.

A Motion was MOVED by Cllr Lloyd and SECONDED by Cllr Sapwell to receive the recommendations set out in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and was RESOLVED.

2.1       Invite Members to consider taking on the maintenance at Vaughan             Williams Way and the alley way at Tower Hill, with both being the        subject of budget bids for 2015/16 onwards.

2.2       Agree that all future requests to adopt, or purchase, private land are            referred to the Assets and Enterprise Committee for discussion.

Termination of Meeting

During the preceding item, in accordance with Rule 28 of Part 4.1 – Council Procedure Rules, the business of the meeting not having concluded by two hours after it’s start, Members voted to agreed to continue with the meeting for a further 30 minutes.