Leases, licences and other estates in respect of community land—terms greater than 5 years
47 Leases, licences and other estates in respect of community land—terms greater than 5 years
If a council proposes to grant a lease, licence or other estate in respect of community land for a period (including any period for which the lease, licence or other estate could be renewed by the exercise of an option) exceeding 5 years, it must—
give public notice of the proposal (including on the council’s website), and
exhibit notice of the proposal on the land to which the proposal relates, and
give notice of the proposal to such persons as appear to it to own or occupy the land adjoining the community land, and
give notice of the proposal to any other person, appearing to the council to be the owner or occupier of land in the vicinity of the community land, if in the opinion of the council the land the subject of the proposal is likely to form the primary focus of the person’s enjoyment of community land.
A notice of the proposal must include—
• information sufficient to identify the community land concerned
• the purpose for which the land will be used under the proposed lease, licence or other estate
• the term of the proposed lease, licence or other estate (including particulars of any options for renewal)
• the name of the person to whom it is proposed to grant the lease, licence or other estate (if known)
• a statement that submissions in writing may be made to the council concerning the proposal within a period, not less than 28 days, specified in the notice.
Any person may make a submission in writing to the council during the period specified for the purpose in the notice.
Before granting the lease, licence or other estate, the council must consider all submissions duly made to it.
The council must not grant the lease, licence or other estate except with the Minister’s consent, if—
a person makes a submission by way of objection to the proposal, or
in the case of a lease or licence, the period (including any period for which the lease or licence could be renewed by the exercise of an option) of the lease or licence exceeds 21 years.
If the council applies for the Minister’s consent, it must forward with its application—
• a copy of the plan of management for the land
• details of all objections received and a statement setting out, for each objection, the council’s decision and the reasons for its decision
• a statement setting out all the facts concerning the proposal to grant the lease, licence or other estate
• a copy of the public notice of the proposal
• a statement setting out the terms, conditions, restrictions and covenants proposed to be included in the lease, licence or other estate
• if the application relates to a lease or licence for a period (including any period for which the lease or licence could be renewed by the exercise of an option) exceeding 21 years, a statement outlining the special circumstances that justify the period of the lease or licence exceeding 21 years
• a statement setting out the manner in which and the extent to which the public interest would, in the council’s opinion, be affected by the granting of the proposed lease, licence or other estate, including the manner in which and the extent to which the needs of the area with respect to community land would, in the council’s opinion, be adversely affected by the granting of the proposed lease, licence or other estate.
On receipt of the application, the Minister must request the Director of Planning to furnish a report concerning the application within such period as the Minister specifies.
After considering the application and any report of the Director of Planning, the Minister, if satisfied that—
subsections (1), (2) and (6) have been complied with, and
such consent would not contravene section 46, and
in all the circumstances, it is desirable to grant consent,
may consent to the granting of a lease, licence or other estate in respect of the whole or part of the land to which the application relates, subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister specifies.
The Minister may consent to a lease or licence referred to in subsection (5)(b) only if the Minister is satisfied that there are special circumstances that justify the period of the lease or licence exceeding 21 years.
On request by any person, the Minister must provide that person, within 14 days of that request, with a written statement of reasons for consenting to, or refusing to consent to, the granting of a lease, licence or other estate in accordance with subsection (8).
The Minister’s consent is conclusive evidence that the council has complied with subsections (1), (2) and (6).
For the purposes of this section, any provision made by a lease or licence, or by an instrument granting any other estate, in respect of community land, according to which the council—
would suffer a disadvantage or penalty if the same or a similar lease, licence or estate were not to be granted, for a further term, after the expiry of the current lease, licence or other estate, or
would enjoy an advantage or benefit if the same or a similar lease, licence or estate were to be so granted,
is taken to confer an option for renewal for a term equal to the further term.
This Act’s bill:Explanatory memorandumSecond reading speech
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