Issue - meetings

Purpose of the Report

(a)         To inform the Executive of proposals from two organisations to lease land in the Sincil Bank area.  Firstly Bridge Church had submitted a proposal to lease the former play area on Archer Street and the adjacent area directly underneath Pelham Bridge and secondly the Sincil Community Land Trust (CLT) proposed to lease an area of land located on Chelmsford Street.

(b)         To seek approval to proceed with preparing a lease, subject to all the terms outlined in this report being met, for the use of these sites as community social space.

Decision

(1)         That public notices be made of an intention by the City of Lincoln Council for the leasehold disposal of the open spaces at:

(a)      Chelmsford Street, as set out in the site plan at Appendix 1 to the report to the Executive; and

(b)      Archer Street, as set out in the site plans at Appendices 2 and 3 to the report to the Executive.

(2)          That, in the event of no objections being received to (1)(a) above,  the lease terms be finalised and lease formalities be completed with the Sincil Community Land Trust for the Chelmsford Street site.

(3)          That, in the event of no objections being received to (1)(b) above, the lease terms be finalised and lease formalities be completed with Bridge Church for the Archer Street site, including the adjoining area beneath Pelham Bridge.

(4)          That any objections to either (1)(a) or (1)(b) above be reported to the Executive for consideration and a decision on whether or not to proceed.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None. 

Reasons for the Decision

Sincil Community Land Trust indicated that it wished to lease an area of land on Chelmsford Street, which since the demolition of two houses had been used as a small green and open space, although it was used by the local community to store bins.  This area was often blighted by litter and fly tipping. This area had been maintained as part of the Council’s contract with Continental Landscapes.  Sincil Community Land Trust aimed to bring the land back into use as an important open space that can assist with community cohesion.  

Bridge Church indicated that it wished to lease an area of land on Archer Street, which had previously been a play area but for a number of years had been a redundant site, with the play equipment removed. The site was maintained as part of the Council’s contract with Continental Landscapes.

Bridge Church also requested inclusion in any lease an adjoining area located directly underneath Pelham Bridge. This adjoining land was previously used by former leaseholders as overflow customer car parking, but this had ceased in 2017.  Bridged Church aimed to bring the site back into use as an open space that can assist with community cohesion.

It was confirmed that the decision would be subject to the terms set out in the report.