Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Sale of South Ruislip Young Persons Centre
Report Document
No Report PDF available.
Decision / Minutes Document
Can't see the PDF? Download Minutes
Text extracted from PDFs
View Decision / Minutes Text
Chief Officer Decision Notice Page 1
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Chief Officer Decision Notice
For non-key decisions
Notice is hereby given that the following Chief Officer Decision has been made, as
delegated by the Cabinet/Cabinet Member or under their delegated authority in the
Council’s Constitution.
1. NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Title of decision Sale of South Ruislip Young Persons Centre
Name and Title of
Chief Officer(s)
making the
decision
Daniel Kennedy – Corporate Director of Residents Services
Directorate Residents Services
Reference No. 2026/1659
Date of decision 12 March 2026
Relevant Ward South Ruislip
Details of Decision Taken
Decision The Chief Officer agrees to:
1. Approve the disposal of South Ruislip Young
Persons Centre to Bidder A (as set out in Appendix 1). It
is a cash offer on an unconditional basis and subject to
contract only.
2. Note that Bidder B is also a cash bidder on an
unconditional basis too.
3. Note that in accepting the bid from Bidder A, the
Council is compliant with S123 of the Local Government
Act 1972 having undertaken a wide marketing exercise
that resulted in seven best and final offers
being submitted, as set out in the exempt Appendix 1.
Reason for
decision
This matter follow’s Cabinet’s decision on 15 January 2026 to declare
the property known as South Ruislip Young Persons Centre, Victoria
Road, South Ruislip, HA4 0JE as surplus to requirements as it is no
longer required for service use, following the 2023 consultation and
Cabinet approval of the new Youth Offer and Delivery Model.
Cabinet on 15 January 2026 agreed to dispose and sell the freehold
interest of the site on the open market and delegated authority to the
Corporate Director to make all necessary further decisions including the
sale as set out in this decision notice.
Bidder A is a well- established brand and reputable multi-national
organisation with over 300 nurseries and pre-school facilities across the
Chief Officer Decision Notice Page 2
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
UK. Their bid is unconditional and they have also demonstrated that
they have cash funds available to acquire the premises.
There is a recognised shortage of childcare/nursery places across
the Borough, and their use helps in mitigating this shortfall.
Bidder A engaged in a closely contested bidding process conducted
by the council’s sales and marketing agent which has resulted
in seven best and final bids. Therefore, the Council is fully compliant with
its S123 LGA 1972 best value obligations in recommending Bidder A.
Alternative
options
considered and
rejected
1. Sell to Bidder B. This would be compliant with our S123 LGA Act
1972 obligations. However, this would not deliver the same
community benefits that also align with and contribute to the
Council’s wider corporate objectives.
2. Do Nothing – the building is vacant. This option would require
longer term security to be put into place that would be costly. An
empty building would also deteriorate over time if not put into use
and maintained. The building is also in good condition, and the
level of market interest clearly demonstrates there is a strong
need for such premises in the Borough. Therefore, this option
would result in the loss of an opportunity to capitalise on this
demand and deliver a much- needed community use and capital
receipt for the Council.
Factors
considered
Judicial Review – whilst Bidder B could do this, the Council is fully
compliant with its statutory disposals obligations as set out in this
report. Also, this is considered a very low risk given the cost.
Audit – it is common for the conduct of property transactions to be
periodically audited. This decision notice serves as an important part of
the audit trail to inform what considerations were taken into account as
part of the decision-making process in accepting Bidder A’s bid.
Bidder A could withdraw from the transaction. If this were to happen,
then there is an opportunity to revert to Bidder B who is also compliant
with S123 LGA 1972 requirements.
Report author Richard Mortimer – Disposals Lead. Residents Services
Legal and Finance Comments
Finance
comments
The proposed disposal of South Ruislip Young Persons Centre to Bidder
A will generate a significant capital receipt for the Council. The property
has been openly marketed and seven compliant best and final offers
were received.
Officers have referenced the relevant statutory framework governing
disposals. From a financial perspective, the property has been subject
to open market testing, with seven compliant best and final
offers submitted, which provides market evidence to suppo rt the
consideration being achieved.
Chief Officer Decision Notice Page 3
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
The receipt will contribute towards the Council’s approved capital
receipts targets and may be applied towards funding capital expenditure,
thereby reducing the need for external borrowing.
There are no material ongoing revenue implications arising from the
disposal, other than the removal of any holding, security or maintenance
costs currently associated with the vacant building.
Finance Officer
name and Title
Jai McGloin – Principal Accountant, Financial Planning & Strategy
Legal Comments The report identifies a disposal of Council property.
Under the Local Government Act 1972, s123, a local authority may
dispose of land where it considers that the disposal will further the
promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental
wellbeing of the area. In this case, the proposal prom otes the social
wellbeing of the borough through the delivery of a new nursery
provision.
The transfer should be supported by the appropriate legal agreement
setting out the arrangements.
As this is a property disposal of Council owned land, there are no
procurement implications.
Legal Services confirm that there are no legal impediments in
proceeding with the proposed recommendations. The Councils legal
team will provide advice and assistance in respect of legal matters
relating to subsequent agreements that will be required.
Legal Officer
Name and Title
Neena Sharma – Deputy Principal Lawyer/Contract and Procurement
Lawyer 09.03.2026
Appendices / report attached
List here any
report /
appendices / e.g.
tender evaluations
or other
documentation to
be included in
support of this
decision
Appendix 1 – Agents List of Bidders
Appendix 2 – Site Plan
Exempt
Classification
The accompanying report and its appendices are declared as exempt
from publication as they involve the disclosure of information in
accordance with Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule
12 (A) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), in that the report
contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any
particular person (including the authority holding that information) and
that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the
public interest in disclosing it.
Chief Officer Decision Notice Page 4
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Cabinet Member & other Chief Officer consultation
Name and Title of
any other Chief
Officer(s) you
have consulted
with and as per
any delegation.
Gary Penticost – Director of Operational Assets
Andrew Low – Assistant Director of Property Services
Name and Title of
the Cabinet
Member you have
consulted, and as
per any delegation
Cllr Jonathan Bianco – Cabinet Member for Corporate Services &
Property. Consulted on 12/03/26
Any conflicts of
interest declared
by the Chief
Officer making
this decision
and/or Cabinet
Member who is
consulted by the
officer which
relates to the
decision - or if
dispensation by
the CEO was
granted to them.
N/A
Authority for this decision
Detail authority
from Cabinet or
under delegated
authority in the
Constitution /
Officer Scheme of
Delegations
On 15 January 2026, Cabinet delegated authority for making decisions
in respect of this sale to the Corporate Director of Residents Services
in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services & Property:
London Borough of Hillingdon - Agenda for CABINET on Thursday,
15th January, 2026, 7.00 pm
2. APPROVAL
Formal approval by Chief Officer making the decision
Signed Date 12/03/26
Corporate Director of Residents Services