To Chairperson of Meeting arranged for 15th April 2024 in Denholm Village Hall at 7.00pm
It was with much regret Doreen, George and Rae resigned the next day after meeting on 25th March 2024 in Denholm Church Hall. They felt that as was pointed out at the meeting their committee was lacking in numbers but the effort and time put in by them was not always appreciated and they felt it was time to call it a day especially following the barracking they received with many complete inaccuracies being flung at them.
Doreen and George stated at the time due to holiday commitments they were not able to attend the suggested meeting on 15th April and requested date be changed but this was emphatically refused.
It is therefore important and in fairness to past council members that factual information firstly regarding terms of deed of gift and secondly brief details from past council decisions regarding land and tenancy issues be given at your meeting.
I trust this will be given a fair hearing, properly discussed and contents of submission fully minuted.
SUBMISSION
Terms of Gifted Land and Explanation of
Previous Denholm Feuars & Householders Council Decisions
Land in Denholm was gifted to the Trustees of Denholm Feuars & Householders Council in perpetuity (Councils understanding this was a life gift and cannot be sold) to manage for the benefit of the village in 1946 by Mrs Mary Palmer Douglas of Cavers Estate. At the time of gift, much of the land gifted was in communal use but over the years parts of this land has been encroached upon by houses built either fully on boundary or very close.
Previous councils agreed with householders who wished that for a small rent they could make use of a plot on boundary of their property for garden use. This seen as a benefit to the householder but also maintaining the terms of the gift. The income derived from this in a small way helped with the costs of managing other land gifted to benefit the village.
More recently in 2019 the gift of Lower Dean was given in same fashion by the late Mr Michael Braithwaite.
With regard to legal case, it is not correct for us to comment on this issue other than say following full land checks it is our understanding this confirms that other than land covering the actual footprint of what was the Comrades Hall, not part of the gift, land South of Douglas Drive which includes land in two gardens, the property occupied and subject of a tenancy to BT and Play Park is all land gifted to DF&HC Trustees. This backs up rental decisions taken by previous councils as stated earlier and most recent councils concerns to maintain terms of gift.
We sincerely hope this helps in some way for Village to understand the council’s decision with regard to rental of land and the understanding of gift given in perpetuity.
