Public Consultation on Disposal of Forres Common Good Land

Land Adjacent to Clovenside Cemetery, under Section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015

Introduction
Section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, which came into force on 27 June 2018, requires that before taking any decision to dispose of a Common Good property the Council must publish details about the proposed disposal.

Notice is therefore hereby given that Moray Council is considering the disposal of the Land adjacent to Clovenside Cemetery, Forres IV36 3BU, which is held on the Forres Common Good Account.  It is proposed that the asset is disposed (sold) to the Forres Baptist Church. The sale will include payment, and all proceeds of any sale would be credited to the Forres Common Good Account and funds generated would be distributed within the local community. The sale would also avoid any future vacant property liabilities which would burden the Forres Common Good Account.

The common good is a fund of money and assets, formerly owned by a burgh and now owned and administered by the Moray Council.

What land is affected?
This consultation covers a proposal in respect of the land adjacent to Clovenside Cemetery.  This incorporates the land that Forres Baptist Church resides upon and the 'car parking area' between the Church & the Cemetery.

Location

Proposal

The proposal is:

The described land will be disposed (sold) by Moray Council to Forres Baptist Church, as shown in the diagram below.

The red border within the diagram below shows the extent of land to be disposed of.

The pink shaded area will be used as a car park for internments.

The green area (access road) will not be affected by the disposal.  

Consultation
Section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires the Council to consult local communities when considering disposing or changing the use of Common Good assets.  This includes where the proposal is to use a Common Good asset for another purpose.  Therefore, the consultation is seeking the views of the community in respect of the proposals in order to inform the decision-making process.

Key Questions

•  Do you live in an IV36 postcode area?
• Are you happy for the proposal to proceed?
•  What are your views on the proposal in relation to the disposal from Moray Council to the Forres Baptist Church?
•  Do you have any additional comments?

Representations
The Council will take all representations into account in reaching a decision.
Anyone may make representations to Moray Council in respect of the above proposal.
Representations must be received by - Tuesday 03 June (8 weeks)

Please submit written representations to:

• Email: CAT@moray.gov.uk
• Post: FAO CAT Team – Forres Baptist Church, Housing and Property Services, Room 245, Moray Council Office, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX
• A survey for responses can be found here if you wish to use this format.

Moray Council is the Data Controller for this process. Please see our Privacy Notices for information about how the personal data provided on this form will be used.

After the consultation
After the consultation closes Council officers will consider all representations received in relation to the proposals. Council officers will then provide a report to Corporate Committee on the outcome of the consultation at which time a decision will be sought on the proposal.