Land offer - what should I do?

[veggiechicken]

Imagine that you are a Committee member of a small (50 member) village charity.
20 locals want allotments and no obvious land is available - after 4 years of searching.
The Council have offered a small piece of land (mostly swamp and potentially only 2 plots) and you have rejected this offer. The Council then offer the use of a much larger area of land BUT you have to take on a large complex of disused buildings (including a residential centre). As a Charity you can have them rate-free and at a peppercorn rent. BUT you have to find a use and tenants for the buildings in order to cover the running and maintenance costs.
If you turn down the offer, there will be no allotments. If you accept it, you may never sleep again!
What would you do?

[Bigmallly]

I'm afraid I value my sleep VC.

[SarrissUK]

I'd go for it, and with your kind of energy VC, I can't see how you're hesitating!

[zazen999]

Hmm....what is the peppercorn rent? I'd possibly negotiate on paying that for a year or two to get the premises up and running. Meanwhile, propagate like crazy to start your community nursery.

[veggiechicken]

I'm afraid I value my sleep VC.

Me too, and I value my retirement too. I don't want to be a property manager, I don't really want an allotment either, but, if I say No, that's it, the end of allotments here. I've spent most of today finding out about charity liability and grants and its doing me 'ed in! I thought I'd share m dilemma with you all (sorry) .

[zazen999]

Why is it down to you?

[Bigmallly]

Sorry VC but why are you worrying about something you don't want anyway.....let somebody take it on who does want it. It's a no brainer in my eyes.

[veggiechicken]

I'd go for it, and with your kind of energy VC, I can't see how you're hesitating!

I may have the energy but how many others do? I'm not doing it alone and there are ony a few committed others.

Hmm....what is the peppercorn rent? I'd possibly negotiate on paying that for a year or two to get the premises up and running. Meanwhile, propagate like crazy to start your community nursery.

Probably only a pound or two and it comes with sitting tenants - the Doctor's surgery on a lease to run for another 18 months. We can have their rent but it won't be enough to cover the running costs, even if nothing else happened there.

[Bigmallly]

I've spent most of today finding out about charity liability and grants and its doing me 'ed in

I think you have answered your own question.

[veggiechicken]

Why is it down to you?

Only because I'm the Chair of this Group (didn't run away quickly enough!).

Sorry VC but why are you worrying about something you don't want anyway.....let somebody take it on who does want it. It's a no brainer in my eyes.

I've already told the powers that be that the risks are too great but the other, very weak bit of me, says, you're being offered a complex of buildings that must have a community use - you just need to find it!
I know, I'm stupid!

[Bigmallly]

I don't know what you are but you're not stupid.

[alldigging]

You have a group. Can that goup not make a decision weight it all up?

If it s JUST done to you then the answer is no.

Assume you would need 4 people to act as trustees ay be to mange the land...

[veggiechicken]

Thanks All. Its been on my mind for months now! Meetings with councillors, grant bodies etc and getting nowhere apart from this white elephant offer.
You're right, I should just step away and get back to the things I enjoy, like organising Poems & Pints evenings!!

[marchogaeth]

I don't know what you are but you're not stupid.

But the council might think you are. This sounds like a giant millstone they want rid of. If it was any use they would keep the building and let you have the land. There are so many regeneration grants around at the minute there must be some reason why they don't want it. I'd ask why.

I assume you are part of a committee - what do they all think? Whatever you decide it should be a committee decision with shared responsibilty.

[Newton]

Hmm....what is the peppercorn rent? I'd possibly negotiate on paying that for a year or two to get the premises up and running. Meanwhile, propagate like crazy to start your community nursery.

A peppercorn rent is a rent of one peppercorn per annum. Simples! It does not increase for the term of the lease! So it's free!