Sale price for Poole ex-caretaker's house is questioned

BCP Council members signed off on the disposal of 21 Mill Lane in the Whitecliff area of the borough at a meeting on July 12.

There was not unanimous support for the proposal, with Parkstone ward councillor Steve Baron hitting out at the process.

As reported, the property adjacent to the entrance of Baden Powell and St Peter’s Church of England Junior School had been marketed through a residential agent and a sale price had been agreed.

The money from the sale will be reinvested into projects the neighbouring school and other schools across the local authority area.

Cllr Baron said he was not happy with some of the details in the confidential report, which could be seen by councillors and officers but not the press and public.

“The property is in an extremely expensive area. It is within Lilliput catchment and of course Baden Powell,” said Cllr Baron, who is the council’s lead member for Poole Rejuvenation.

Parkstone ward councillor Steve Baron

“I do feel that price mentioned in the confidential report should not be accepted. I am extremely worried there has only been one offer on the property and the property has only been marketed by one single agent.

“In my opinion, the council should have had the property on with two agents, not connected to each other, to ensure a fair price would be achieved without any question.”

The Poole Local Group councillor said the house was slightly dated but it had great potential.

Cllr Baron said land to the side of the property could be used as an integral garage with extra rooms above, subject to planning permission.

“The council could have easily painted some walls within the property to make it look a little more attractive,” Cllr Baron said.

“Marketing a property with dark red walls inside with one agent is never to going to end in a positive viewing.”

An online estate agent listing for the property had a guide price of £600,000.

Cllr Baron added: “I am extremely surprised the agent has erected a sold board. This will clearly put off any potential buyers at a time when we haven’t even agreed to sell it at that price. The board is up now.”

The address in Mill Lane which the council has sold

Liberal Democrat councillor Marion Le Poidevin said she wondered why the property could not be used for social housing.

Council leader Cllr Drew Mellor said housing services were consulted and the balanced decision was putting the money from the sale into the schools system.

In response to Cllr Baron, Cllr Mellor said he was assured of the process but he agreed on the point of having multiple agents.

“There was an assumption internally around it would be more expensive for us to have two agents rather than one agent,” said Cllr Mellor. “That is not my experience in employing agents.”