A MOST regrettable decision by Mid Devon District Council’s Cabinet on June 14 to sell the Crediton Council Offices. Points I would like to make as follows:

• The decision was against the recommendations of both the Full Council and the Scrutiny Committee. How is this possible in what should be a democratic model of governance?

• The recommendation of both was that the building be offered to Crediton Town Council at half market value as had been the case with the sale of a similar building in Tiverton.

• Crediton Town Council had even increased its bid in order to increase the attractiveness of a decision in its favour.

• Cabinet is not recorded as having considered the historic, cultural and practical value of the building to the Crediton community as against its commercial benefit to MDDC if sold, unless this was considered under the Part 2 (confidential) discussion.

• It would appear that the commercial potential of the Tiverton Town Hall was limited due to the complex design of that building. The Crediton Council Offices are of a simpler design more easily adaptable for other uses e.g. residential, and therefore saleable in commercial terms.

• MDDC still has a use for Tiverton Town Hall whereas it has withdrawn completely from the Crediton building. It was therefore in its own interest to keep Tiverton in community ownership.

• The decision to treat two Mid Devon towns so differently in similar circumstances is hard to understand and would appear to be discriminatory.

• The issue has become complicated by Crediton Town Council having listed The Council Offices as an Asset of Community Value, which means that the building now has to be offered to the community at FULL market value. However, that offer is only good for six months.

• Questions now arise as to when that six-month period begins and ends, can the Crediton Community contemplate raising the £250,000 or so necessary and can that be done in the limited time available?

• Can this whole business now go back to the MDDC Scrutiny Committee/Full Council to be looked at again? The debate should not only be about monetary value but the integrity and civic pride of a community, and the ability of MDDC to recognise and value this in a practical manner.

Sue Briant-Evans

Lapford

address supplied