A lot has been written and said about our views on football and Bottom Meadow since LibDem councillors were elected to Sandhurst Town Council. Most, if not all of it, false.
We campaigned on a platform of honesty and transparency, representing our residents. This has been and always will be our goal. It is this, digging for the truth and transparency, that has upset fellow councillors and the tenant, culminating in the outrageous statement read out by the Chair of Leisure at the last meeting (Mar 19). More recently Reform Campaign Manager Cllr John Edwards sharing his thoughts and opinion too, without declaring all the facts (or his interest).
From the time we first took office, we wanted to get to the truth around the lease at Bottom Meadow. Repeated emails asking for information were ignored and questions placed in person were batted away.
On 27th July ’23 the fog began to clear.
At a regular meeting of the Strategy & Policy Committee an agenda item (18) ‘to consider and approve the draft lease document further to resolution 2894. Further to discussion it was proposed by Cllr N Allen and seconded by Cllr Mrs J Bettison and the following was resolved (3009) that the draft lease document be amended as per the Committees request.’
(2894 resolution was for Agenda item 16 Lease, at S&P on 23rd March 2023, just prior to the May elections where 7 Conservative Councillors lost their seats.)
It transpired they had approved a new lease for the tenant at Bottom Meadow: 30 years, without any rental increase, during the entire period. This had been done in secret by 3 Conservative Councillors (under the Urgent Procedure Committee for which no minutes exist), without reference to the full town council, or without consulting local residents. We only knew about it, because 2 LibDem councillors attended the full S&P meeting (even though not committee members), including the restricted last section when members of the press and public are excluded. It was during this closed segment where the announcement was shared. It is worth noting, after that meeting, the Conservatives amended the Standing Orders so that the exclusions on attending the non-press/public element, was extended to non-committee Councillors too!
30 years. Flat rental fee.
What other commercial organisation has that?
Any private rental tenant would love those terms!
Where previously rent had been ~£140 per year, it suddenly increased to £5,000. And there it is to remain without increase for 25 more years.
For context, the little cafe on the park pays more & has an annual rent review written into its lease, overseen by the Chartered Institute of Surveyors.
We wanted to understand how and why this had been allowed to happen. How does a 30 year flat rental fee offer the best return for Sandhurst residents? And why? Why would a council issue a 30 year flat fee lease without increase? We finally got an answer to this at a meeting in Sept ’24 with both the Chair of Leisure at the time, and Chair of S&P and three of our councillors.
Q: Why were the terms of the lease agreed?
A: Because the club asked for them
Q: Who was involved in the negotiations, which outside body?
A: None.
Q: Do you think that represents the best value for Sandhurst residents?
A: What was the alternative?
Since the lease was signed, sadly the tenant has shown no regard for engaging productively to address any subsequent issues. In fact they have shown an ongoing utter disregard for Sandhurst residents and the full Council, preferring to deal with only a select few. Statements are read out on their behalf, the Reform Campaign Manager (who held a party meeting at the club with food and drink), speaks in support of them. Building works are undertaken without following any proper planning permission procedures, residents are scared to use the park on match days, allotment members are verbally abused and berated, cars speed down the access road, and residents’ lives are blighted by the noise.
This was never about football. It is about a property deal and the subsequent lease at Bottom Meadow (Bracknell News: Larges Lane Housing Development Approved). It is about trying to do the best for our residents, something that was furthest from the minds of the Conservative Councillors who created the lease and who, along with the Reform Campaign Manager, continue to advocate for the tenant rather than Sandhurst residents.
As we go into our final year as elected Sandhurst Town Councillors, before our local elections next May ’27, we will continue to question, we will continue to strive for the truth, and we will continue to ensure that we do all we can to represent our residents honestly and with integrity.
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