Decision details

The Cabinet will be asked to consider proposals by the Gurdwara Association to purchase a piece of land adjacent to their premises in the currently vacant King William Street Quarter development to extend an existing Place of Worship and to provide community facilities

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration presented a report on the outcome of discussions with representatives of Gurdwara Singh Sabha London East (“the Gurdwara”) regarding land at and around the site of the Gurdwara in North Street, Barking.

The Cabinet Member explained that the land swap arrangements, which would include the sale of Council land to the Gurdwara and the return to the Council of land currently leased to the Gurdwara, would enable the Gurdwara to expand its facilities for the benefit of the local community whilst at the same time facilitating the Council’s redevelopment plans in respect of the adjacent William Street Quarter site.  The Cabinet Member added that the proposals represented the best outcome for the Council and he placed on record his appreciation to officers and representatives of the Gurdwara who had been involved in the discussions over the past couple of years.

Cabinet agreed:

  (i)  The surrender of the current 125 year lease from the Council to the Gurdwara in respect of the land shown as Plot B on the plan at Appendix 1 to the report;

  (ii)  To enter into a Deed of Rectification for the existing lease of the car park land within Plot B to rectify the lease plan and exclude the area of land falling within the William Street Quarter development;

 (iii)  To sell the freehold interests in the land to the east of the Gurdwara (shown as Plot A on Appendix 1) and the area of land currently used as the Gurdwara car park within Plot B, to the Gurdwara for a combined premium of £105,000, including Council costs, for use as a community facility; and

 (iv)  To authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to agree the final terms and enter into all necessary agreements and documentation to effect the above proposals.