Maindy Park Trust make in principle decision on land exchange

A proposed land exchange at Maindy Park would be in the best interests of the Maindy Park Trust according to an in principle decision taken by Cardiff Council Cabinet, acting in its role as Trustee of the charity. The exchange is still subject to charity commission consent.

Now the exchange is approved in principle by the Maindy Park Trust, an application will be made to the Charity Commission for its consent to land at Cae Delyn Park replacing part of the land at Maindy Park, currently held in trust by the charity.

Only Cabinet Members who had not had any previous involvement in the Council’s development proposals for the Maindy Park land, and did not have any other personal and prejudicial interest, took part in the decision-making process. All other Cabinet Members withdrew from the meeting.

An independent Maindy Park Trust Advisory Committee,comprised of three independent members of the Standards and Ethics Committee, established to manage the conflicts of interest in the decision-making process, had already decided that the proposed land swap was in the best interests of the charity and recommended approving the proposed land swap, subject to the following six conditions, all of which have been now been agreed:

1. The new velodrome is to be built and operational prior to the proposed land swap taking place.
2. The terms and conditions recommended in the Qualified Surveyors updated report are to apply; including specifically in relation to overage provision – being 50% of the uplift in value to be paid to the Trust if the site is sold for future development during a period of 75 years from the date of the release of the restrictive covenant (which would entitle the Trust to receive a share of any potential increase in value if an implementable planning permission is obtained for a higher value use of the land).
3. Improvement works are to be carried out at Cae Delyn (including improved drainage of the site, walkways, lighting and other reasonable and proportionate measures to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area) and the retained land at Maindy, in order to improve its amenity value for the purposes of meeting the Trust’s charitable objectives.
4. Arrangements are to be made between the Trust and the Council for a lease or licence to be agreed to cover the future maintenance and management of the land at Cae Delyn and Maindy by the Council, with no ongoing revenue costs to the Trust which exceed income.
5. The Council is to carry out a review of the governance and financial management arrangements of all trusts of which the Council is a trustee.
6. The provision of an information board on site at Maindy Park to explain the historic use of the site as a Velodrome.

The Maindy Park Trust Advisory Committee is to hold another meeting (within 90 days from the date of its last meeting on 23rd January 2023) to agree the proposed recommended improvements (outlined in condition 3), which may be subject to further public consultation. The Committee agreed, however, that the recommendations made at its January 2023 meeting could be reported to Cabinet before the date of the Committee’s further meeting to consider the improvement works.