Councillors challenge Somerset’s decision to sell off part of Frome town centre

Local TV

The sale of a key brownfield site in Frome town centre could be ‘called in’ following a challenge by local councillors.  Somerset Council’s executive committee voted on September 23 to sell the Saxonvale site in the heart of Frome to Newcore Capital, despite potentially having to repay £3.6m of funding previously provided by Homes England Newcore is expected to bring forward its own proposals for the site in the coming months, with a series of public events being planned before a formal planning application is submitted.  But four Frome councillors have formally asked the decision to be ‘called in’ and re-examined by the relevant scrutiny committee, to ensure that the executive had followed the correct processes in making its decision.

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00:00Local councillors have asked for a call-in review after Somerset Council has voted to sell the central Saxonvale site

00:06in Frome to Nucor Capital.

00:10Nucor Capital will hold public events before filing a planning application for Saxonvale,

00:15while councillors have warned the council could owe £3.6 million to Homes England.

00:22If the call-in is accepted, a scrutiny committee will examine five issues including the £3.6 million risk,

00:29legal options, regeneration prospects and conflict of interest checks.

00:34The councillors stressed they seek facts, not accusations,

00:39and asked the committee to recommend returning the sale decision to the executive if information is lacking.

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