Parish Council (PC) City of Doncaster Council(CDC)

Summary of PC actions over a period of 18 months in an attempt to gain favourable terms to transfer ownership of the former Youth Club on Denton’s Green Lane from CDC.

PC invited representatives from CDC to attend the PC meeting in April 2023 to discuss the possibility of the Former Youth Club being transferred to the ownership of PC.

After the meeting CDC drew up some terms  for consideration. PC discussed these terms and requested CDC review parts of the terms that asked the Parish Council to return the building to CDC at Nil Cost if the Parish decided to dispose of the site.

PC further discussed the proposal at a project meeting in October 2024 and agreed that surveys should be carried out to establish any structural issues with the building.

Jan 2024 a survey was carried out at the cost of the Parish Council which highlighting several significant structural issues including the roof and a flooded basement.

February 2024 Parish Council again  proposed terms to CDC to take on the building removing the part of the agreement that related to the PC handing back the property to CDC at nil cost.

It was noted that due to the considerable amount of money required simply to start this project, the Parish Council would not want to begin to invest money, then come across a potential problem that would incur further substantial costs, then have to return the property to CDC, having lost all their investment of public money.

April 2024 CDC produced a further proposal that the Parish Council considered.  Due to the fact this  included a clawback to CDC the terms were declined by the PC.

July 2024 Members of the Parish Council met on a remote meeting via Zoom,  with senior members of CDC in an attempt to further discuss terms of an agreement with the CDC to transfer ownership to the Parish Council. At this meeting the PC were informed that the CDC has a duty to secure best value and cannot dispose of the building at less than its market value.

August 2024 CDC again attended the meeting of the PC and further discussions took place whereby the PC highlighted that they would consider taking on the property at nil cost if the terms were favourable.

September 2024 PC meeting discussed a further draft heads of terms from CDC.

After a long debate and careful consideration, the Parish Council members decided that they were unable to

take on the transfer of the former Youth Club Building to the Parish Council with the terms laid out in the agreement. It was noted that the PC were grateful for the work that CDC had put into trying to make this project feasible, however the PC were not willing to enter into the agreement on the given terms. CDC were informed in September 2024.