Lib Dems call-in Cabinet decision on sale of former school sites

12.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th Sep 2006

Cllr. Richard Church, Leader of Northamptonshire County Council Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Councillors are "calling-in" the decision of the Northamptonshire County Council Cabinet on the sale of former school sites and have approached County Councillors of all three political parties seeking support.

The reasons for calling in the decision are:

(1) That there has been insufficient consultation with local communities on the disposal of sites for development at best value.

(2) That the cabinet did not fully consider an amendment to the advice proposed by Councillor Bill Parker that would have enabled the council under certain circumstances to remove certain sites from the sale.

Liberal Democrat County Council Leader, Richard Church said; "The Liberal Democrats believe that the local community should have a say in how the land is used, it may be that parts of certain sites could have an alternative use."

Cllr. John Yates (Lib Dem Boughton Green) said: "The school land was originally acquired by the people of Northampton for their schools. The County Council inherited it. Now it is surplus to requirements, we believe that the surplus profits from its sale should go towards community facilities for local people. Kingsthorpe Rec needs a car park, and there has for a long time been a need for a Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool there also. The sale of the land at Kingsthorpe Middle School could be a positive contributor to providing this much needed community facility"

Cllr. Richard Church added: "We recognise that the County Council needs to raise £65 million pounds for the P.F.I. Scheme for building and refurbishing forty one schools in Northampton. However we believe that the sale of the surplus school properties and land will raise well in excess of that, and that this should be retained in Northampton and used to provide community facilities in those areas that need them."

The "Call-In" procedure requires signatures from ten councillors, and from a Chair of a Scrutiny Committee. For the call-in to succeed there has to be support across the political parties. The "Call-in" would then be considered by a Scrutiny Committee and their recommendation would go to the next Cabinet Meeting for consideration