Forres Baptist Church wants to buy common good land currently rented from Moray Council
A local church claims that Moray Council has agreed to sell it common good land - while the local authority is running a public consultation on the decision.
Forres Baptist Church has proposed to buy privately owned Clovenside Chapel and the common good land outside the adjacent cemetery - the community has until June 3 to confirm if it is happy for the purchase to proceed.
Pastor Dr Jon Mackenzie is looking forward to owning the building that the Baptists have looked after and internally remodelled over the 14 years it has been based there.
He explained: “We're hoping people will support the purchase of the land as the proceeds of the sale will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and the funds distributed within the local community.
“The sale would also avoid any future vacant property liabilities which would burden the account. If it goes through, the community will benefit to the tune of £180,000, so it is worth supporting.”
The transfer would include the private premises and a small section of the car parking area between the church and the cemetery.
“The parking for the cemetery will not change,” added Pastor Mackenzie. “It will remain free and accessible for anyone visiting the cemetery.”
Key questions in the council consultation are: ‘Are you happy for the proposal to proceed?’ and ‘What are your views on the proposal in relation to the disposal from Moray Council to the Forres Baptist Church?’
Submissions can be made by email to CAT@moray.gov.uk or by post to FAO CAT Team, Forres Baptist Church, Housing and Property Services, Room 245, Moray Council Office, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX; or via the online survey at http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_161083.html
After the consultation period closes, council officers will review all representations and provide a report to the Corporate committee for a decision to be made.
Forres Baptist Church was initially allowed to use the space by the current owners of the building - William Purves Funeral Directors - before entering into a formal contract to rent it as sole occupiers.
The rent has increased over the years, in-keeping with the price the council charge for the land on which the building is situated.
William Purves have since offered to sell the building and Pastor Mackenzie claims Moray Council has also agreed to sell the land its on for a combined price of £400,000.
The church are currently raising funds for the project, looking to take out a mortgage when the deposit has been achieved.
Moray Council is responsible for the administration of nine common good funds as assets in the form of land and buildings, as well as in cash.
To be able to make a reasonable level of grants from the income available, two-thirds are distributed annually, with the remaining third being retained for contingencies and for addition to the capital sums being retained.
When considering applications for grants, each application should be considered on its own merits. The council decides whether or not it is reasonable to make disbursements each year for the benefit of the community.
The reserve generated from the funds is used to maintain the land and buildings held as assets.
Forres Community Council discussed the potential sale of the annual income-generating land at their last meeting at Forres House Community Centre.
Chairman Steve Ferris said: “We agreed to send a number of questions about the potential sale and Forres common good to Councillor Scott Lawrence (Forres, SNP).
“He will hopefully get the answers so that we can have a more informed discussion on the subject at our May meeting, then respond to the consultation before the deadline.”
“With the current new internal renovations, we will look to expand our work in the community, including our Tuesday drop in, Silver Soupers lunches, and other activities.
“If people are interested in knowing more about the work we do, we have a guest service' taking place on Sunday May 25 at 10.30am, for people who do not usually attend the church, to come up and see what the church is like.
“Hopefully by then, most of the new internal renovations will have been completed too.”
Moray Council has opened a public consultation on the purchase of the land, which we're hoping people will support, as the proceeds of the sale will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and the funds generated distributed within the local community.
The sale would also avoid any future vacant property liabilities which would burden the account.
If the sale goes through, the community will benefit to the tune of £180,000, so It is worth supporting.
The parking for the cemetery will not change: it will remain free and accessible for anyone visiting the cemetery.
Jon
Forres Baptist Church has a long-standing relationship with Clovenside Chapel, occupying it for over 14 years in one form or another.
The church was initially allowed to use the space by the current owners of the building - William Purves Funeral Directors - before entering into a formal contract to rent the building as sole occupiers.
The rent has increased over the years, in-keeping with the price the council charge for the land on which the building is situated.
The owners have since offered to sell the growing fellowship the building as their permanent premises, and Moray Council have agreed to sell the land the building is on, for a combined price of £400,000.
The church are currently raising funds for this project, looking to take out a mortgage when the deposit has been achieved.
Pastor Dr Jon Mackenzie said: “It will be great to finally own the building that we have looked after and internally remodelled over the years.
“With the current new internal renovations we will look to expand our work in the community, including our Tuesday drop in, Silver Soupers lunches, and other activities.
“If people are interested in knowing more about the work we do, we have a guest service' taking place on Sunday May 25 at 10.30am, for people who do not usually attend the church, to come up and see what the church is like.
“Hopefully by then, most of the new internal renovations will have been completed too.”
He added: “With the issue of loneliness being a growing concern in society in general, churches are a fantastic way of connecting people in the community, and it is a real privilege to be able to facilitate those connections, as well as sharing the good news about Jesus with those who want to know how to have a relationship with God.”
Moray Council is responsible for the administration of 9 Common Good Funds; The Council holds each of the separate Common Good Funds as assets in the form of land and buildings as well as in cash. The current policy of the Council, as regards the distribution of the annual income available from those assets was established by the Policy and Resources Committee on 20th June, 2001.
At that time the Committee noted that the true value of money depreciates over time and therefore in an attempt to keep pace and at the same time be able to make a reasonable level of grants from the income available the Committee agreed a policy of two-thirds of the annual income available being distributed with the remaining one-third being retained for contingencies and for addition to the capital sums being retained.
When considering applications for grants, each application should be considered on its own merits.
Whilst custom and practice have in effect established certain principles in each case and particularly in unusual cases, the Council must consider whether or not it is a " reasonable judgement" for them to consider making a disbursement from the relevant Common Good Fund.
In using a "reasonable judgement" for the "benefit of the Community" this can include expenditure on:-
a. Civic Ceremonials and hospitality provided it is reasonable.
b. Maintenance of public parks where they form part of the Common Good.
c. Donations to local philanthropic institutions.
d. Erection of memorial or ornamental statues and meeting the costs of maintenance.
e. Street decorations within the old Burgh.
It is essential to use the reserve generated from the Funds to maintain the land and buildings held as assets.
“The proceeds will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and be distributed locally as per the usual process (i.e. applications can be made to the fund by the local community). More info on the application process and forms are here.”
Moray Council is considering selling common good land in Forres.
The local authority is inviting the community to take part in an eight week consultation on proposed disposal of the area by Clovenside Cemetery currently occupied by Forres Baptist Church - who wish to buy it.
A council spokesperson confirmed the transfer would include the church premises and a small section of the car parking area between the church and the cemetery.
He said: “The transfer does not include the cemetery itself and car parking to visit the cemetery will not be affected.
“The proposed sale includes the church premises and the car parking area between the church and the cemetery.”
He added: “Proceeds will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and distributed within the local community.
“This sale aims to avoid any future vacant property liabilities for the Forres common good account.”
Key questions in the consultation are: ‘Are you happy for the proposal to proceed?’ and ‘What are your views on the proposal in relation to the disposal from Moray Council to the Forres Baptist Church?’
Representations must be received by June 3. Submissions can be made by email to CAT@moray.gov.uk or by post to FAO CAT Team, Forres Baptist Church, Housing and Property Services, Room 245, Moray Council Office, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX; or through the online survey.
After the consultation period closes, council officers will review all representations and provide a report to the Corporate committee for a decision to be made.
An expanding local church that is looking to buy common good land that it already occupies
