Apologies were received from Cllrs Carter and McCheyne.

Members were reminded that the Localism Act 2011 required local authorities to keep a list of assets (meaning buildings or other land) which were of community value. Once an asset was placed on the list it would usually remain there for five years. The effect of listing was that an owner intending to dispose of the asset must give notice to the local authority. A community interest group then had six weeks in which to ask to be treated as a potential bidder. If it did so, the disposal could not take place for six months from when the bid was entered.  The theory was that this period known as the “moratorium” would allow the community group to come up with an alternative proposal- although, at the end of the moratorium, it was entirely up to the owner whether a disposal  went  through, to whom and for how much. There were arrangements for the local authority to pay compensation to an owner who lost money in consequence of the asset being listed. 

A nomination had been received from Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in relation to land as indicated on the site plan before Members which was owned by Tesco.  Officers advised that the criteria for determining whether the asset should be listed as an ACV was set out in Section 88 of the Localism Act 2011 and was summarised in the report before Members.  Members were requested to consider if the nomination met these criteria.

The report had been prepared to enable  Members to consider whether to list or not to list the land as an Asset of Community Value.

Cllr Chilvers MOVED and Cllr Mynott SECONDED Option 1 as detailed in the recommendations within the report.

Following a full discussion a  recorded vote was requested in accordance with Rule 9.5 of the Council’s procedure rules. Members voted as follows:

FOR: Cllrs Barrett, Chilvers, Mrs Coe, Mrs Hones,  Mrs Hubbard, Mynott, Parker, Miss Sanders, Sleep and  Mrs Squirrell (10)

AGAINST: 0

ABSTAIN: 0

It was therefore RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to list the land as indicated on Appendix B of the report as an Asset of Community Value.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged the large public attendance at the meeting in support of the application and advised that, as requested at the 14.1.15 Finance and Resources Committee meeting, officers had been in dialogue with Tesco representatives.

An item of business may only be considered where the Chair is of the opinion that, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the Minutes, the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.