Meeting documents

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mrs B Gray and Mr A Connell.

As the Chair was unable to attend the meeting, Mr P Dew was elected as Chair for this meeting only.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1          Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

2          Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3          Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority

(a)       Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be           executed; and

            (b)       Which has not been fully discharged.

4          Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority. 

5          Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer. 

6          Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)

            (a)       The landlord is the authority; and

            (b)       The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial interest.

7          Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

(a)       That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the authority; and

(b)       Either –

(i)      The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

(ii)     If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

In addition, you must also disclose other non-pecuniary interests set out in the Code of Conduct where these have not already been registered.

Note

A "disclosable pecuniary interest" is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners). 

There were no declarations made on this occasion.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED that,     the Committee exclude the press and public during consideration of Item 8 on the Agenda (Property Matters).

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 March 2022 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that,                 the minutes of the previous meeting of the Holehird Trust Joint Committee held on 3 March 2022 were agreed as an accurate and complete record.

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services (copy enclosed).

Members considered a report from the Director of Finance (s151 Officer) which sought to determine the amounts to be made available for distribution on grants and fees for the 2022-23 financial year.

The Finance Officer explained that at the meeting held on 8 July 2021 it was decided to add the 2020-21 under allocated amount of grants and fees of £5,992 to the amount originally made available for distribution in 2021-22 of £50,000. Therefore the amount made available for distribution in 2021-22 was £ 55,992. In the 2021-22 financial year £ 52,766 was approved for distribution on grants with a further £ 5,277 (10% of grants) on fees, a total of £ 58,043.

Members were asked to note the small overallocation in the 2021/22 financial year and agreed to reduce this from the £ 50,000 amount to be distributed in the 2022/23 financial year leaving £ 47,949.

 The Finance Officer also asked members to consider whether any of the COIF (Charities Official Investment Fund) investments needed to be sold to finance future expenditure. The Savills representatives explained that a significant sum would need to be made available in the near future to cover surveying costs as well as the cost of professional services. The Finance Officer agreed that COIF Investments would need to be sold at some stage it was at the Committee’s discretion as to when to permit the sale. A discussion took place on the topic and the Finance Officer suggested that a sale of investments worth £50,000 would cover grants for the year and should be considered the minimum amount to realise to cover statutory requirements. Trustees agreed in principle that £50,000 worth of COIF investments be sold if necessary to cover future costs.

RESOLVED that,                

1)            members AGREED to reduce the over allocation from the £ 50,000 amount to be distributed in the 2022/23 financial year leaving £ 47,949 for distribution on grants

2)            members AGREED in principle to realising £50,000 worth of investments in COIF (Charities Official Investment Fund) if neccessary to finance future expenditure.

To consider grant applications received by Cumbria Community Foundation (copy enclosed).

Members considered the recommendations of the Senior Grants & Donor Services Officer from Cumbria Community Foundation.

RESOLVED that,                 the Trustees approve the following grants:-

23561 Youth Presence

Youth Worker

Requested - £9,000.00

AGREED - £2,000.00

Priority – Children & Young People

Charitable objectives - to provide activities and facilities to beneficiaries.

23583 1^st Stavely Brownies

Adventurous overnight trip to Waddow

Requested - £800.00

AGREED - £800.00

Priority – Children & Young People

Charitable objectives - to provide activities and facilities to beneficiaries.

23594 Windermere Rowing Club

Purchase of a Explorer 21 Trainer Single Scull

Requested - £1,500.00

AGREED - £1,000.00

Priority – all age groups

Charitable objectives - to provide activities and facilities to beneficiaries.

23642 North Lancashire & South Cumbria Motor Neurone Disease Association

Motor Neurone Support Group Costs

Requested - £911.00

AGREED - £911.00

Priority – People with a disability

Charitable objectives - to provide activities and facilities to beneficiaries

The next meeting will be held on 20 September 2022 at County Hall, Kendal.

The next meeting of the Holehird Trust Joint Committee is due to take place on 20 September 2022 in County Offices, Kendal.

To consider a report from the Land Agent (copy enclosed).

Representatives from Savills land agents attended the meeting and presented a report on activity in relation to individual properties owned by the Trust.

On the topic of the re-letting of Holehird Mansion and Stable Cottage Trustees heard that those who had previously submitted a tender to advise that, either their offer was not acceptable, or that more information was required in order to consider their tender further. Savills land agents had not received any further information from those parties.

In addition the Trustees heard that an interested party had viewed the exterior of the property and had requested a full viewing. The interested party was a successful bar and restaurant operator and was considering its suitability as a boutique hotel. They had instructed the land agent that their preference would be to take a five-year lease at a market rent, with an option to purchase. The Savills representatives explained that they were arranging a viewing with this operator and would obtain further information.

Discussion then moved to the potential sale of the Holehird Mansion and Stables Cottage. Trustees were reminded that on the Teams call on 11 May, a discussion took place regarding the future of the properties, particularly taking into account the ongoing running costs and that no suitable tenants had been found to date. The Trustee instructed the land agent to place the property on the market in its current condition offering a long-term lease or with freehold title. The benefit of offering the property subject to a long-term lease is that the Trust would retain a degree of control of the site, and it was confirmed that this was the Committee’s preferred option.

The Savills representatives explained that the recommendation from their Manchester team was that if the property was to be placed on the market offering a long-term lease, it should be marketed as follows:

·         Include both Holehird Mansion and Stables Cottage, as most potential enquirers will require Stables Cottage for staff accommodation.

·         Advertise the Property on a long-term lease of 250 years.

·         Invite offers in excess of £1.75 million.

A discussion took place regarding whether it would be necessary to seek cabinet approval for the sale of the property and whether the asset value would mean it would be in contravention of Section 24 arrangements. It was AGREED that the Senior Estates Surveyor would investigate what would be required for the Holehird Mansion and Stables Cottage to be listed for sale.

An in-depth discussion took place after which Trustees recommended that Cabinet AGREE in principle to the listing of Holehird Mansion and Stables Cottage and the front lawn, inviting offers of over £1.75m for a long-term lease of the properties for 250 years.

Trustees gave their support to the property agent going ahead with the sale if given Cabinet approval but also stated that if an opportunity to let the property arose then that should be given equal attention.

On the topic of Leonard Cheshire (LC) dilapidations to the Holehird Mansion property, the Savills representatives  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.