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A decision made (02.03.09) to approve the sale of Rozel Mill Tower.

Decision Reference: MD-PH-2009-0013
Decision Summary Title :	DS - Rozel Mill Tower – Proposed Sale	Date of Decision Summary:	25 February 2009
Decision Summary Author:	Principal Property Manager	Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written	Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	WR - Rozel Mill Tower, La Rue du Moulin, St. Martin – Proposed Sale PBA 0343	Date of Written Report:	25 February 2009
Written Report Author:	Principal Property Manager	Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Rozel Mill Tower – Proposed Sale PBA 0343
Decision(s): 1. The Minister approved, as recommended by Jersey Property Holdings, the sale of Rozel Mill Tower to Mrs Margaret Gilpin, née Hamilton, for £75,000, with each party to be responsible for its own legal fees in passing contract before Royal Court.
Reason(s) for Decision: 1. Under Standing Order 168 (1) (a) the Minister hereby notified the States that he had accepted the recommendation of Jersey Property Holdings to agree to the above land transaction. 2. Under Standing Order 168 (5) the Minister hereby authorised the Attorney General and the Greffier to pass any contract which is required to be passed on behalf of the Public.
Resource Implications: There are no financial or manpower implications in respect of this decision.

Action required:

1. In accordance with Standing Order 168 (3) this decisions must be presented to the States at least 15 working days before the contract is passed. After the expiry of 15 working days following presentation to the States the transaction may be concluded.

2. The Director of Jersey Property Holdings is to instruct the Attorney General and the Greffier to pass the necessary contract and to copy this decision to the Minister, Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer.

Signature:

Position:

(Assistant Minister)*

MD-PH-2009-0013

Date Signed:

2/3/09

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Rozel Mill Tower - Proposed Sale

TREASURY AND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

JERSEY PROPERTY HOLDINGS

Property Transaction for Ministerial Decision - Minister for Treasury and Resources

Rozel Mill Tower, La Rue du Moulin, St. Martin – Proposed Sale

PBA 0343

Purpose

To seek the consent of the Minister for Treasury and Resources to sell Rozel Mill Tower to Mrs M Gilpin for £75,000.

Background

Rozel Mill Tower was included in the schedule of proposed property disposals in “P40/2006 - the States Strategic Plan 2006-2011”, which was approved by the States.

The Public acquired Rozel Mill Tower in 1919 from the then owner of ‘Rozel Mill’ (house), apparently as a navigational aid.

Since its acquisition in 1919, the use of the Tower by the Public has been limited, and it has not served any operational purpose to the States for most of that period. Its function as a navigational aid was short lived, and its restricted size and layout effectively limited other possible uses – for example storage. In addition, the location of the Tower within the grounds of ‘Rozel Mill’ creates a privacy issue hindering the use of the structure by the Public. The Public’s limited use of the Tower is reflected in its decision to lease back the structure to successive owners of the house – records show that it has been leased back to the owner of ‘Rozel Mill’ since the 1960s, but leases earlier than that may have taken place.

In 1983 the Public leased the Tower to the current owner of ‘Rozel Mill’ – Mrs Gilpin – for 21 years, with an option to renew for a further 21 years – an option exercised by the lessee, giving a lease end date of 2026. The Tower is not used by Mrs Gilpin for any practical purpose, but forms an attractive feature of the property overall. The limited size of the Tower does severely limit its use, other than for storage of non-perishable objects.

Because of the location of the Tower within a private residence and the existence of a lease until 2026, it was decided to negotiate the sale of the Tower with Mrs Gilpin rather than seeking tenders. An independent valuation was obtained of the structure, and Property Holdings negotiated a figure of £75,000 with Mrs Gilpin, which it considers to be a fair and proper price.

The Tower is of historical importance and is listed with the Planning and Environment Department as a pSSI. This will secure the protection of the Tower against inappropriate future development.
Recommendation

It is recommended that the Minister approves the sale of Rozel Mill Tower to Mrs Margaret Gilpin, née Hamilton, for £75,000, with each party to be responsible for its own legal fees in passing contract before Royal Court.

Written By: Principal Property Manager

Signature …………………………

Authorised By: (Director/Assistant Director PH)

Signature ………………………… 25 February 2009