Council: We didn't give land away by mistake

10:10am Monday 16th July 2012 in Bourne End & Wooburns By James Nadal

Cllr David Carroll, Deputy Leader at WDC, issued a statement to clear up the position about the land Cllr David Carroll, Deputy Leader at WDC, issued a statement to clear up the position about the land

COUNCIL bosses have moved to quell claims that they mistakenly handed over strips of land to a housing association.

Labour said Wycombe District Council had given Red Kite Community Housing the green spaces in error as part of the agreement to sell it 6,700 council homes in December.

Small areas of land across Wycombe were transferred as well as houses.

At a recent meeting the party's leader at WDC Cllr Victoria Groulef said she had learnt the land on Cherwell Road, Wooburn Green, was supposed to be retained, but then later passed over to Wooburn and Bourne End Parish Council.

Instead it had been transferred to Red Kite.

Cllr Groulef said: "According to council minutes back in December it should've been retained and not transferred.

"I can only presume that was done in error when cllrs voted back in December.

"I was under the impression, as were other Labour cllrs, that all of the land listed to be retained should've been retained instead of transferring to Red Kite.

"Otherwise why bother listing?"

She warned it could cost the parish council hundreds of pounds in legal fees even if the land was passed back by Red Kite for free.

Cllr David Carroll, Deputy Leader at WDC, said in a statement: “It was suggested WDC had mistakenly transferred the land to Red Kite rather than to the parish council.

“The transfer of these strips of land to the parish council did not take place prior to the Tenant Led Transfer (of the housing stock) because the parish council were not then in a position to receive them as they were still carrying out due diligence on whether the land had adopted status.

“The land, therefore, transferred to Red Kite as envisaged in the November Cabinet report which stated that it remained open to each party, i.e. Red Kite and local bodies to reach agreement on transfer of open spaces and play areas.

“This is what has now happened and the Deputy Clerk to Wooburn and Bourne End Parish Council has advised that at their most recent meeting on June 26 the parish council accepted the offer of land and parking spaces from Red Kite.”

Cllr Carroll added: “This is not a matter that has involved the Council at any stage. We did always envisage that some of the parish councils would approach Red Kite in this way.”

Red Kite has confirmed it has agreed to gift the land back to the parish council but it is not yet clear if it will face paying any related legal costs.

Comments (5)

11:22am Mon 16 Jul 12

Kania 2000 says...

Are right and left hands attached???
Are right and left hands attached??? Kania 2000

12:35pm Mon 16 Jul 12

Judge 2 says...

The fact is that WDC were supposed to transfer over HOMES ONLY to Red Kite. Once they got into the detail it was too complicated and to make life easier for themselves, WDC gave them ALL housing stock. This included homes, alleyways / footpaths, parks and small spaces of green land previously on the WDC Housing Stock register.

This in short has given Red Kite more then they actual expected! I hope they paid extra, otherwise someone’s made a quick earner………….

To make matters worse, it’s so difficult for a non-tenant resident to hold Red Kite accountable for parks and other assets they have taken over, accidently!
The fact is that WDC were supposed to transfer over HOMES ONLY to Red Kite. Once they got into the detail it was too complicated and to make life easier for themselves, WDC gave them ALL housing stock. This included homes, alleyways / footpaths, parks and small spaces of green land previously on the WDC Housing Stock register. This in short has given Red Kite more then they actual expected! I hope they paid extra, otherwise someone’s made a quick earner…………. To make matters worse, it’s so difficult for a non-tenant resident to hold Red Kite accountable for parks and other assets they have taken over, accidently! Judge 2

1:23pm Mon 16 Jul 12

williamjames says...

Wel! What do you expect from a Council with a part time leader and two deputies.
It is little wonder that Red Kite have been handed land which will in future offer them superb development opportunities dispite warning from councillors on all sides not to give them the green space.
Not surprising given that the leader is a banker.
Wel! What do you expect from a Council with a part time leader and two deputies. It is little wonder that Red Kite have been handed land which will in future offer them superb development opportunities dispite warning from councillors on all sides not to give them the green space. Not surprising given that the leader is a banker. williamjames

1:55pm Mon 16 Jul 12

wayneo says...

williamjames wrote:
Wel! What do you expect from a Council with a part time leader and two deputies. It is little wonder that Red Kite have been handed land which will in future offer them superb development opportunities dispite warning from councillors on all sides not to give them the green space. Not surprising given that the leader is a banker.
Did the new leader make the decision all by himself then? Was it not the previous cabinet, along with consent of the other parties then?
[quote][p][bold]williamjames[/bold] wrote: Wel! What do you expect from a Council with a part time leader and two deputies. It is little wonder that Red Kite have been handed land which will in future offer them superb development opportunities dispite warning from councillors on all sides not to give them the green space. Not surprising given that the leader is a banker.[/p][/quote]Did the new leader make the decision all by himself then? Was it not the previous cabinet, along with consent of the other parties then? wayneo

6:36pm Mon 16 Jul 12

williamjames says...

The previous administration was clear that the transfer would be of the housing stock only and not the surrounding green space which was to remain in council control. To include 'ransom' strips so that the district would benefit from any future development.

Perhaps this is a case of penny wise and pound foolish where the council wished to shed the costs of grounds maintenance.

What do you expect from a cabinet lead by a banker!
The previous administration was clear that the transfer would be of the housing stock only and not the surrounding green space which was to remain in council control. To include 'ransom' strips so that the district would benefit from any future development. Perhaps this is a case of penny wise and pound foolish where the council wished to shed the costs of grounds maintenance. What do you expect from a cabinet lead by a banker! williamjames

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