Transfer set to safeguard the future of town ‘jewels’

Councillor Matthew Wilkinson says the transfer - which includes sporting facilities and buildings - will safeguard the assets for the future.

The transfer - which has taken two years to negotiate - will finally go ahead, but 
only after councillors voted against proposals to rescind the entire agreement.

That motion was put forward by councillors Alan Lockwood and Richard Barker who claimed, among other things, that the proceeds of any future sale of an assets would go to ELDC- and not the town council.

They also claimed the assets could result in significant running costs for the town council and could have an adverse affect on council tax bills.

However, Coun Wilkinson said: “These are vital facilities for our town.

“Stanhope Hall and the Horncastle Youth Centre are facilities owned by larger district and county councils and were shut and closed.

“They could have been lost to the town.

“OK, the Youth Centre is closed and it’s going to take a hell of a lot of hard work and effort to get that back up running.

“But they are now under local control - by us and that’s why I support this transfer.

“Yes, it may cost us some money to keep them going but the long term ownership is now ours.

“We are talking about the cricket club and the football club - all those great things that families and communities have been involved in for years.

“I want to keep them going and this is the right time to make sure these facilities are safeguarded for the future.

“If we have to make budget changes in the future then so be it but we can’t predict what is going to happen.

“It is much better for them to be under control.”

On the ‘clawback clause’ regarding proceeds from any sales, Coun Wilkinson said it was a standard part of similar agreements.

He added: “We would be the first to complain if ELDC were giving an asset away for free to (perhaps) reduce council tax.

“We are a town council. We are not a developer. These are assets for our town. Why would we want to sell them?”

He was supported by Coun Dominic Hinkins who is leading the campaign to save the Youth Centre.

He said: “I would be very concerned we might want to sell any of the assets.

“Selling off the family silver is no way to fund any shortfalls we might be considering. It (the transfer) is very sensible.”

Coun Kirsty Clamp said: “I agree with Councillor Wilkinson that it (owning the assets) will be better for Horncastle in the long run.

“I have worked with projects taken from higher councils and they have been a lot better for the local community.”

However, Coun Terry McCarthy said she could not support the transfer, adding: “I am very concerned these assets will become a liability.”