Today I inspected part of Rutland County Councils accounts relating to the purchase of the former
Ashwell Prison Site.
At a later stage I will be publishing the full details provided by the council relating to this project.
The Rutland Times asked the council to reveal the price it had paid for the site. The council said it was happy to do so but “out of courtesy was checking this with the Ministry of Justice”.
http://www.rutland-times.co.uk/news/local/rutland-county-council-completes-deal-to-turn-former-ashwell-prison-site-into-business-park-1-4711937
Since that article was published the Tory council has banded about the figure of £1,000,000
That actual price tag paid was £1,340,000
Adding all other fees and stamp duty and expenditure to date the Council has spent a total of £2,456,146
The income from the site rentals so far since the purchase of the site in 2012 totals £65,000.
For the current period 2014 - 2015 £40,347 of rent has been collected and none of the budgeted £25,200 service charges has been collected.
In my opinion not a great success story for the Rutland Tories and Sir Alan Ducan MP might
like to take a peek at the accounts before writing further letters to the local press.
Some expenditure could have been avoided.
The project was recently heading towards running over budget and using a little bit of Tory magic
the budget was increased earlier this month, to show a current under spend of £589,254, If the the current
trend of overspending continues I can see another future budget increase.
High losses have been caused by neglect, high utility bills due to major water and gas leaks which went unnoticed by 24/7 onsite security staff.
Rental income due to commercial restrictions, the council can not provide a break down for each unit.
The site currently has 38 tenants and 59 vacant units. Notes on the accounts blame a low income on construction delays. The council no longer uses the main builder. Construction and broadband delays have resulted in undefined extended rent-free periods.
Looking at the income from rent it is very clear the comment made by Cllr Alf Dewis 'the Vale Judo Club is paying a preferential low rent' could be true and in my opinion this could be true of all the tenants.
Sale and disposal of property.
When the council acquired the prison site a lot of property was inherited, the council sold some of this
some was recycled and some was land filled.
They Spent £7,623.98 clearing property, income from sales and recycling was £8,257.82
making a small profit.
I am awaiting a detailed list of councillor's purchases
Recently they have sold hardcore from the demolished prison blocks the largest purchase made by Burghley Estates £13,000
Ashwell Prison Site.
At a later stage I will be publishing the full details provided by the council relating to this project.
The Rutland Times asked the council to reveal the price it had paid for the site. The council said it was happy to do so but “out of courtesy was checking this with the Ministry of Justice”.
http://www.rutland-times.co.uk/news/local/rutland-county-council-completes-deal-to-turn-former-ashwell-prison-site-into-business-park-1-4711937
Since that article was published the Tory council has banded about the figure of £1,000,000
That actual price tag paid was £1,340,000
Adding all other fees and stamp duty and expenditure to date the Council has spent a total of £2,456,146
The income from the site rentals so far since the purchase of the site in 2012 totals £65,000.
For the current period 2014 - 2015 £40,347 of rent has been collected and none of the budgeted £25,200 service charges has been collected.
In my opinion not a great success story for the Rutland Tories and Sir Alan Ducan MP might
like to take a peek at the accounts before writing further letters to the local press.
Some expenditure could have been avoided.
The project was recently heading towards running over budget and using a little bit of Tory magic
the budget was increased earlier this month, to show a current under spend of £589,254, If the the current
trend of overspending continues I can see another future budget increase.
High losses have been caused by neglect, high utility bills due to major water and gas leaks which went unnoticed by 24/7 onsite security staff.
Rental income due to commercial restrictions, the council can not provide a break down for each unit.
The site currently has 38 tenants and 59 vacant units. Notes on the accounts blame a low income on construction delays. The council no longer uses the main builder. Construction and broadband delays have resulted in undefined extended rent-free periods.
Looking at the income from rent it is very clear the comment made by Cllr Alf Dewis 'the Vale Judo Club is paying a preferential low rent' could be true and in my opinion this could be true of all the tenants.
Sale and disposal of property.
When the council acquired the prison site a lot of property was inherited, the council sold some of this
some was recycled and some was land filled.
They Spent £7,623.98 clearing property, income from sales and recycling was £8,257.82
making a small profit.
I am awaiting a detailed list of councillor's purchases
Recently they have sold hardcore from the demolished prison blocks the largest purchase made by Burghley Estates £13,000
