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Peterborough City Council is currently under police investigation following the sale of the John Mansfield Centre (JMC), a property valued at £4.6 million, for the nominal sum of just £1. The building, which houses City College Peterborough, was transferred in 2020 to a charity called the City College Peterborough Foundation (CCPF). Council officers have raised concerns that both the disposal of the asset and the financial transactions involved may have been unlawful. Following the sale, the council paid nearly £800,000 in rent to the foundation, despite there being no documented lease or formal agreement underpinning the arrangement.
According to a cabinet report, the decision to transfer ownership of the JMC was approved in September 2019. However, the paperwork supporting this transfer, notably the “delegated authority form,” was deeply flawed. Under council rules, land valued at £2 million or less can be sold without the need for approval from the secretary of state. But since the book value of the JMC was £4.6 million, the council should have sought such consent, which there is no evidence to show it did. The report also highlights that the transfer decision was made by an officer who lacked explicit authorization, and the form incorrectly claimed that the foundation was created specifically for managing the JMC, despite its establishment dating back to 2013.
After the transfer in early 2020, the council began making rental payments to the foundation starting at £17,010 per month, later increasing to £29,010 by February 2021. The absence of a formal lease has created ambiguity regarding the terms of the council’s continued occupation of the building and the financial responsibilities involved. Additionally, the council made nearly £300,000 in payments related to maintenance, which it now considers unlawful. Given the circumstances, the council does not anticipate being able to repurchase the property and must instead negotiate with the foundation, although the legal status of the college’s occupation remains uncertain.
Labour cabinet member for finance Mohammed Jamil emphasized the council’s commitment to transparency, stating that the report’s release “is proof that where unlawful acts are identified as having taken place, the council’s statutory officers will not shy away from their duty to report that wrongdoing, and we fully support that approach.” He also stressed that since 2022, the council has embarked on an “improvement journey,” instituting stronger governance and financial practices. The forthcoming recommendations aim to strengthen these processes further. Meanwhile, Tasha Dalton, principal at City College Peterborough, acknowledged the report relates to a historical issue and reassured that the college’s priority remains minimizing any impact on learners, staff, and those they support
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