At the extrodinary meeting of Lib Dem run Oadby & Wigston Borough Council on Tuesday 26th June 2012, the proposal to enter the Boroughs car parks assets into the Towncentre Masterplan development proposals at Nil-value was condemned as the 'Sale of the Century' by Cllr Bhupen Dave ( Woodlands Ward). Group Leader Cllr Jill Gore and Cllr Peter Swift also opposed this absurd recommendation, which potentially may see the council taxpayers of Oadby and Wigston losing out on valuable capital and revenue reciepts. (Cllr Thakor was unable to attend)
During the meeting, Cllr Dave addressed the Council and told them "this is a two page brief report on a very important subject & needs careful scrutiny. It has wide ranging implications. The report encourages us to support the recommendations without outlining the benefits of doing so. This report should be judged on what it DOES NOT say rather than WHAT IT SAYS."
" To begin with, members have not been given enough information to help them reach an objective and rational decision. For example, under paragraph 3.1 and 3.2 mention has been made of consultants and preparations of detailed financial appraisals. The rest of the conclusions, recommendations and I suspect Inspector’s observations are based on these appraisals. Yet members do not have any information on these financial modelling which, it seems may have gone wrong. This financial modelling or at least some key aspect of the appraisals showing financial deliverability should have been part of this report.
If we are not careful this ‘giving away’ of car park land for free could be seen as ‘SALE OF THE CENTURY’. The comments on paragraph 4 on financial implications, would you believe it, does not have any financial figures! For example the least members expect is some indication on the current value of the car park land. We also need to know the financial impact of the recommendations on the whole Council eg loss of capital receipts leading to missed opportunities for future capital investments. Or how many capital projects have not been progressed because the Council does not have capital receipts?
It would also be helpful to know whether or not the Council’s Finance Director has endorsed the ‘Financial implication’ comments in Paragraph 4?
The report also does not clarify which car parks are we talking about? All of them? Oadby car parks, Wigston car parks?
If it is Oadby East Street car park then these proposals would spell a disaster for Oadby residents and Oadby businesses. Oadby needs more car park spaces and council’s position that there will be no overall reduction in car park spaces is not a tenable position. This is an ingenious way of perhaps hiding the fact that there will be a reduction in car park spaces on East Street car park with serious traffic flow problems if the flats are built near the A 6 side.
This proposed sale of the FAMILY SILVER at nil value or on BUY NOW PAY LATER basis as if the Council is a washed with money beggars belief. I hope all Oadby Councillors will support me when I say I have some very serious reservations about the recommendations, particularly if they are going to have an adverse impact on the East Street and Sand Hurst Street car parksIn conclusion, members do not have enough information on which they can build their views on the recommendations. The implications of accepting the recommendations even on ‘in principle’ grounds have very serious impact on council’s finances and more than that they are not in the best interests of either the residents or businesses. "
A recorded vote was called and all Conservative Cllrs present voted against the Lib Dem recommendations, the decision was approved by the Lib Dem controlling group.