CREDITON Town Councillors voted unanimously tonight, Tuesday, July 3, to move from the building the Town Council has occupied since the early 1970’s.

The decision was made by the councillors at the Town Strategy meeting.

Members made the decision after considering Mid Devon District Council’s (MDDC) recent decision (made on June 14) to sell the Council Office it owns in Market Street to a private buyer.

Councillor Frank Letch, the Mayor of Crediton, chaired the Town Strategy meeting and said that it was District Cllr Ray Stanley who had proposed that the Crediton Offices was not sold to Crediton Town Council, which was backed by the Leader of Mid Devon District Council, Cllr Clive Eginton.

Mr Letch added that one Tiverton Cabinet member voted with Cllrs Stanley and Eginton and among the abstentions was local councillor, Mrs Margaret Squires.

Mr Letch explained that the day after the Cabinet decision he had received a telephone call from Buyer 2, the private buyer chosen by Mid Devon District Council.

He explained that the buyer had met with the Town Clerk and himself to discuss terms and was advised that these would include the Town Council paying for the upkeep of the building and also paying rent, the rent being more than is currently paid to MDDC.

UPKEEP AND RENT

In discussions it was noted that in the last three years MDDC had been paying upkeep of the building amounting to about £25,000 each year.

Mr Letch said: "Effectively if we went ahead with the proposal we would pay public money of £25,000-a-year to maintain someone else’s building, and rent on top of that - meaning we would be in a lose, lose situation."

The Clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, said she had asked Buyer 2 if it was possible to let part of the Council Offices to a commercial business but was told by Buyer 2 that a rental percentage would be required.

Asked if there was room for negotiation with Buyer 2, Mr Letch said that he had already negotiated a rental decrease.

The Clerk outlined how Devon Communities Together had previously completed a feasibility study about the building and it said that it made sense for the Town Council to buy the building and spend money on it as an asset but found that £25,000-a-year would not be feasible.

Crediton Town Council had previously made attempts to buy the Council Offices from MDDC for the same reduced rate that it sold Tiverton Council Offices to Tiverton Town Council, but this was rejected.

OWNED BY THE PEOPLE OF CREDITON

The Crediton Council Office was previously owned by the people of Crediton and was transferred by Crediton Urban Council to Mid Devon District Council when it was formed in 1974.

Previously Crediton Town Councillor, District and County Councillor Cllr Nick Way, said: "It was the people of Crediton who paid for the building in the first place".

Crediton Town Councillor Kay Piercy asked whether it would be appropriate to write to MP Mel Stride to try to have the Cabinet decision overturned.

She also asked if the process had gone too far to be called in or if there was room for further discussion.

OMBUDSMAN

The Town Clerk explained that residents who felt disadvantaged should write, in the first instance, to Mid Devon District Council.

She added that residents could also go to the Local Government Ombudsman with regard to MDDC decision.

’DONE DEAL’

Cllr Letch said he feared that Mid Devon District Council’s Cabinet decision had been a "done deal".

He then proposed, as he said, "with sadness" the refusal of MDDC and Buyer 2’s offer because it was not viable for Crediton Town Council.

The decision was seconded by Crediton Town Councillor and Mid Devon District Councillor John Downes.

Then followed the unanimous decision of the rest of the Crediton Councillors who were present.

’RIPS HEART OUT OF CREDITON’

Town Councillor John Ross commented: "This rips the heart out of Crediton and I believe that was intentional."

Mr Letch continued: "There are nine other groups that use this building and we have been fighting a lone battle to try to defend this.

"I have been doing my bit and the Town Clerk has worked incredibly hard on it as well.

"Currently myself and the Town Clerk are actively seeking alternative premises in the town which sadly won’t be as central as where we are at the moment."

The Town Clerk questioned whether a complaint could be made to MDDC about the decision.

She gave an example of MDDC’s questionable decision-making.

She explained that recently MDDC paid for CCTV for Tiverton, which it also operates, and asked: "What about the rest of us in Mid Devon?"

JUDICIAL REVIEW

During the public question session, local resident Jo Ward, said that he was making enquiries, with other residents, about the possibility of a Judicial Review of MDDC’s decision.

He said he hoped to organise a public meeting in the near future.

After the meeting the Town Clerk said that it was a "regrettable step the Town Council was forced to make by Mid Devon District Council".

Mid Devon District Council previously advertised the Crediton Council Offices on the open market for a full asking price.

Previously Mr Letch said he had received support from some fellow Mid Devon District Councillors and from people in the Crediton community.

PETITION

A few months ago Mr Letch submitted a petition of almost 650 signatures of support for Crediton Town Council to purchase the Crediton Council offices at the 50 per cent rate.

MDDC last year advertised the sale of the Crediton Council Offices on the open market as suitable for conversion to three flats.

It currently rents the building to Crediton Town Council, Citizens’ Advice and Tiverton and District Community Transport.

Crediton Town Council was previously in detailed discussions with Mid Devon District Council about the prospective purchase of the building.

Surgeries are also held at the offices for Citizens’ Advice, CHAT, the Churches Housing Advice Team and Insight, the charity which provides help and advice to people with sight loss.

The upstairs Council Chamber within the building is used for meetings and sub-committee meetings for both Crediton Town Council and Crediton Hamlets Parish Council. The room is also used for planning consultation exhibitions and for other town and district meetings.

A market value guide price of £250,000 was stated for the Grade II Listed office building, which was formerly Crediton’s Police Station.

MDDC withdrew its service from the building on April 1, 2016.

STATEMENT

Recently Mid Devon District Council’s Chief Executive, Stephen Walford, issued the following statement.

He wrote: "In common with many other authorities, the efficient use of our property and asset portfolio is of increasing importance to the effectiveness of the Council’s ongoing financial management.

"From first discussing the disposal of this property, it has taken almost a year to make the decision to sell, with this issue being discussed variously at Cabinet, Full Council - and via the Council’s Scrutiny Committee as part of the statutory ’call in’ procedures to ensure the Cabinet had taken all factors into account when making their decision.

"Two valuations were obtained based on unrestricted and restricted use. The restricted value assumed the building would be used as offices for charities or public services. The property was marketed for a considerable period of time.

"In the meantime, Crediton Town Council sought the registration of the building as an asset of community value.

"This gave the Town Council and other community groups the opportunity to submit bids - and ensured that the Council could not sell the property without giving the opportunity to bid within a prescribed timeframe.

"However, when full and final offers were confirmed the conditional bid from the Town Council would have resulted in the Council (Mid Devon) receiving less than 50 per cent of the restricted value, with other offers having been made at significantly higher levels.

"With the decision now taken, the sale is proceeding accordingly."

• Do you think Crediton has been let down by Mid Devon District Council? Do you feel as Councillor Ross that MDDC’s decision was intentional and will as he says "rip the heart out of Crediton"? Are you disgusted with Mid Devon District Council?

Do you believe that MDDC’s decision was a "done deal"? Do you think Crediton Town Council has made the right decision?

Will you be affected if Crediton Town Council and/or other services move from the Crediton Council Offices? Would you support a Judicial Review?

Share your views with fellow "Courier" readers. Write a letter to: The Editorial Manager, "Crediton Courier", 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.

Please include your name, address and a daytime telephone number, not necessarily for publication.

Alternatively, email your letter to: [email protected] .

Please ensure you include your name, address and a daytime telephone number, not necessarily for publication.