Sale of property of Homefield Douglas

Summary

The request sought information regarding the Minister of Home Affairs' withdrawal from the sale of the Homefield property at 88 Woodbourne Road, Douglas. The authority disclosed all requested information, including email exchanges and council minutes confirming the sale was paused and subsequently withdrawn due to the site's strategic value.

Key Facts

• The sale of Homefield was paused in early December 2016 for a private discussion between the Minister and the DHSC Minister.
• A discussion paper (16/266) prepared for the Council of Ministers was withdrawn before the meeting on December 8, 2016.
• The Council of Ministers formally agreed to withdraw the paper regarding the proposed sale.
• The Department of Home Affairs confirmed on December 19, 2016, that Homefield was taken off the market after reconsidering its strategic value.
• The Minister noted that the potential buyer might go public with their discontent regarding the decision.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-01-12
• 2017-01-31
• 01/12/2016
• 02/12/2016
• 8th Dec
• December 8th 2016
• December 19th 2016
• 88 Woodbourne Road
• 14.23
• 16.05
• 09.27
• 663/16
• 16/266
• 290.764
• 81/16

Original Request

Any information relating to the Minister of the Department of Home Affairs' withdrawal from sale of the Property at Homefield 8 Woodbourne road, Douglas including any minutes of meetings etc.

Data Tables (3)

Full Response Text

REFERENCE NUMBER: IM73717I January 31st 2017 REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your request dated January 12th 2017
Your request You asked for; Any information relating to the Minister of the Department of Home Affairs’ withdrawal from
sale of the Property at Homefield 8(sic) Woodbourne road, Douglas including any minutes of meetings etc. (I have assumed you are referring to 88 Woodbourne Road) Response to your request
1. I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested attached to an email as advised as your preferred means of communication 2. The information you request is contained in; An exchange of emails from early December
Date
time From
to Content 01/12/2016 14.23 Mark Kelly, CEO, DHA Assistant Secretary to Council of Ministers We have paused the sale of Homefield while the Minister has a private discussion with the DHSC Minister about the future use of the site. It has been on the market for some time and we had been advised by Treasury (SAMU) to accept the highest offer we received, which we were content to do. The Minister might have made Council aware of the position (the Treasury Minister asked me for a verbal update earlier this week) but we are not seeking Council approval for the procurement of anything, to my knowledge. Best wishes,

01/12/16 16.05 Mark Kelly
CEO DHA Assistant Secretary to Council of Ministers
Following a discussion with my Minister and then with Treasury, I am a bit clearer about what is required for Council on 8th Dec. We (DHA) will prepare a brief discussion paper for COMIN to seek views on whether the sale of Homefield to the present purchaser should proceed. We will include details of the process to date, including the initial valuation, level of interest from the market, and factors involved in the future use of the site. Council will then be asked to advise on an appropriate way forward. We will have the paper to you early next week. Best wishes,

02/12/16 09.27 Assistant Secretary to Council of Ministers Mark Kelly CEO DHA Many thanks – I look forward to receiving your paper on Monday.

Subsequently the paper referred to in the above emails was withdrawn and not considered by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on December 8th 2016. The Council Minute states; 663/16 Sale of Homefield Paper: 16/266 File ref: 290.764 Council agreed that paper 16/266, in respect of the proposed sale of Homefield [the former Headquarters of the Department of Home Affairs], would be withdrawn. Further I release information from Minute 81/16 of the Department of Home Affairs Department Meeting of December 19th 2016, as follows: Minister reported that Homefield had now been taken off the market after reconsideration of the site’s strategic value to Government. Minister noted the potential buyer may go public with their discontent with this decision.

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