DN 08/2022 – Masham Estate

DN 08/2022      Date 16/05/2022

Background

The Commissioner has set out a clear policy to share estate across police and fire services wherever possible to make the most efficient and effective use of our public assets. In Masham the Commissioner currently owns the Masham Police House and the Masham Fire Station. Masham Police House is currently leased to Mashamshire Community Office who use the premises, with the police using it as a touchdown facility for the local Police Beat Manager and PCSO when they are in the area. Masham Fire Station is an On-call fire station housing the local On-call fire engine. Due to the requirements of the two Services, it has been agreed that the police touchdown facilities should be moved to the fire station thereby releasing Masham police house for disposal.

North Yorkshire Police will continue to patrol and engage with the local community as they currently do and there will be no change to the service level local residents should expect.

The Commissioner recognises the value to the community provided by Mashamshire Community Office (MCO) who currently occupy the police house. Therefore, the Commissioner hopes to dispose of the police house as a community asset and has set out a process aligned to the Community Right to Bid scheme to afford MCO the opportunity to purchase the property prior to it being placed on the open market. A timeline and value has been agreed for this process.

Furthermore, should this process be successful, it is hoped, subject to negotiation, that MCO will continue to provide ‘front desk’ services for North Yorkshire Police in Masham, to facilitate signposting and provide a point of contact with the local policing team.

Decision Record

The Commissioner has decided to co-locate fire and police estate requirements in Masham and to dispose of the Masham Police House as a community asset.

Zoë Metcalfe

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire

Statutory Officer Advice

Legal, Management and Equality Implications

The Commissioner’s Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, having read this report and having considered such information as has been provided at the time of being asked to express this view, is satisfied that this report does not ask the Commissioner to make a decision which would (or would be likely to) give rise to a contravention of the law.

Financial and Commercial

The Commissioner’s Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer has advised that the proposals seek to support the continuation of the current community benefit from the asset, while seeking to achieve a market valuation sale of the property. These sale proceeds will then be available to reinvest in policing.