Council looks for depot solution

South Holland District Council is to buy land for a new depot to house vehicles and equipment that was previously stored at the Holbeach site it sold to Aldi, some of which is now on land being leased to one of its councillors.

Waste vehicles that were at the Fleet Street site are currently on land leased to Station Storage of which Coun Tracey Carter is a director.
Purchasing a site for the new depot was discussed behind closed doors at South Holland District Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday.
Coun Carter declared she had an interest in the issue and excluded herself from the debate before the public and press were excluded.
It’s also listed on her register of members’ interests.
At last month’s Full Council meeting South Holland Independent councillor David Wilkinson asked the Cabinet where the vehicles were currently being stored, but when he wasn’t given a response, Coun Sophie Hutchinson raised the query with leader Coun Nick Worth.
Portfolio holder for assets Coun Henry Bingham, who has only been in the post since last month, responded to her: “The site was picked from several sites over 18 months or so.
“Unfortunately most of the sites fell away either due to longer leases with less flexibility, rent or issues with depot lorries and traffic movements early in the morning.
“Coun (Peter) Coupland and Coun (Rodney) Grocock (who are both no longer councillors) wanted us to consider all options and although Carter’s Yard was considered a good option, we were asked to have a final sweep of the area to see if anything else was available.
“We were unable to find anything that was suitable or give us the flexible terms that we required whilst we looked to secure a new depot site in accordance with instructions received from councillors.
“A council officer visited the site in the summer (before we were asked to recast the net for one more try) and we negotiated a deal that allows us to break in December if we so wish.
“The site suited temporary need and was deemed good value for the short period of time it is likely to be required.”
In March The Voice sent a number of questions to the district council about the lease of the Fleet Hargate land, including asking where the vehicles were now stored, but we were told on April 4 that “the full agreement between the council and landowner isn’t concluded yet.”
However Coun Bingham confirmed that the lease came into effect two months earlier on February 1.
The Voice approached Coun Carter for a comment but she asked us to go through the council.
Despite re-sending the questions again, the council is yet to provide any answers.
They did though respond to a question this week on the lease to Station Storage saying it is for £15,996 per year or £1,333 a month including VAT.