Echo News Fossetts Farm 1,300 homes to be decided next week

[tommy tucker]

So the deal has been agreed so when does it get passrd And when do we get rid of the rat family .

 

[annie1954]

So the deal has been agreed so when does it get passrd And when do we get rid of the rat family .

Hopefully very soon he’ll be gone and it’s party time at the Hall

 

[northlincsshrimper1]

Does this really mean that the takeover etc will be complete by mid May, therefore all Court orders against the club be wiped off or am I jumping the gun?
I know all outstanding bills may not have been paid, but will the ball be in the consortium's court, allowing the club to be run correctly?
If so, I would hope all creditors behave in a sensible manner and allow the appropriate time in which everyone can be financially satisfied.

 

[Avl1983]

So am I correct in thinking that there's another meeting before the DD is completed or is this all agreed and were just waiting for the finance partners to give consent now?

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Can we not hire the Pied Piper of Hamelin to lure The Rat away and off of the end of the pier

 

[Holy Joe]

there's another council meeting on Monday - again to give delegated approval - I expect this to be a formality

Then the DD needs completing

Then council can approve/finance partners approve and then consortium can own the club (not RH) - will this be done before the next court appearance - who knows????

 

[dusterman]

So we’re happy and still in limbo?

 

[Barling Magna]

We're somewhat apprehensive as time passes by and the deal still seems some way off.

With apologies to the great Jimmy Cliff:

We're sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the tide to flow
Sitting here in limbo
Knowing that he has to go

Well, they're
Putting up resistance
But I know that our faith
Will lead us on

Sitting here in limbo
But I know it won't be long....

 

[kentblues]

there's another council meeting on Monday - again to give delegated approval - I expect this to be a formality

Then the DD needs completing

Then council can approve/finance partners approve and then consortium can own the club (not RH) - will this be done before the next court appearance - who knows????

As far as I understand then originally the hope was that DD would be completed by now so approval could take place.
Because it isn’t rather than push back the meetings they have got themselves delegated authority to approve quickly themselves rather than needing to schedule further meetings?
Which begs the question how much longer will DD take?

 

[dusterman]

As far as I understand then originally the hope was that DD would be completed by now so approval could take place.
Because it isn’t rather than push back the meetings they have got themselves delegated authority to approve quickly themselves rather than needing to schedule further meetings?
Which begs the question how much longer will DD take?

Aren’t they still awaiting ESG bits from guess who?

 

[sufc4life21]

The problem with deal is the rat has been allowed to dictate the situation in his favour while others haven't really challenged him ie the council and the Consortium to a degree but in there defence they were probably fed a load of bull**** and false promises that the deal with the council is just tick few boxes and you be the owner by 2024. Now we are well into 2024 and we aren't further down the road infact it looks further away now from the finishing line than before. The consortium have reportedly sunk 3 mill into club they don't even own and reliant on the council for result sooner rather than later, that's madness but can't fault there commitment. I'm sure if they had there time again they wouldn't have signed up to this messy ongoing saga which appears to be never ending. I don't believe this will be resolved by the start new season.

 

[dusterman]

So no one knows really. Clarity would be so nice at this time but the only way to get that is threaten protests.

 

[Tinks]

I am just so confused with the whole sorry mess that one person has been allowed to cause

 

[tommy tucker]

All the talk and waffle Its now time for the council to sign off the agreement .To allow the concortium to get on with rebuilding the club . The club need to turn the corner from the dark old days OF Ron Martin and his clan .

 

[Heinz]

Local elections 02 May may have an impact if not agreed and approved prior to that date.

If non-supporting proposal candidates get in it there could be another delay.

Ask each candidate their view on FF to ensure they fully support it - tactical voting may be required!

 

[Holy Joe]

Local elections 02 May may have an impact if not agreed and approved prior to that date.

If non-supporting proposal candidates get in it there could be another delay.

Ask each candidate their view on FF to ensure they fully support it - tactical voting may be required!

I'm guessing thats why the votes were yesterday and Monday - too late for any changes in cllrs to have an impact as decision will already be delegated? That's what I'm hoping anyway

 

[Barling Magna]

All the talk and waffle Its now time for the council to sign off the agreement .To allow the concortium to get on with rebuilding the club . The club need to turn the corner from the dark old days OF Ron Martin and his clan .

I agree Tommy but do you need to shout? (If I might be so bold)

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

now I don't know much about property, legal, or anything else, but isn't all this Ron holding the club/city to ransom? he could sell whenever he likes, he's the one trying to blackmail the council/others isn't he? have I got that wrong?

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

now I don't know much about property, legal, or anything else, but isn't all this Ron holding the club/city to ransom? he could sell whenever he likes, he's the one trying to blackmail the council/others isn't he? have I got that wrong?

The main thing he's done wrong in my eyes, was to create a complex group of companies that were borrowed to the hilt. Not only blackmailed us, but made the sale very difficult for any prospective buyer.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

SOUTHEND’S councillors have backed "a way forward" over plans to build hundreds of homes at Fossetts Farm ahead of another crunch meeting to decide its fate.

Southend Council’s policy and resources scrutiny committee met to debate plans to build up to 1,300 homes at Fossetts Farm, which will allow the sale of Southend United to a consortium led by Justin Rees to finally be completed.
If the principle surrounding the homes are agreed by Southend Council’s cabinet next week, the sale of the club is set to be signed off and £20million will be released to the consortium to help improve Roots Hall
The scrutiny committee, which considered the plan ahead of the cabinet meeting on Monday, “acknowledged the report and its recommendations, accepting it as the way forward”.
At the meeting, councillors raised a series of concerns about a lack of affordable homes and the risk to taxpayers over the plan.

The Echo revealed last week that - as part of the deal - Southend Council could be liable to pay the rent on hundreds of new homes at Fossetts Farm if they fail to attract tenants, it has emerged.
Labour leader Daniel Cowan claimed the “job is half done” and stressed the scheme will need work to protect the taxpayer.

Mr Cowan said: “I am delighted that we are edging closer to a deal that will save the club but we must recognise that the job is only half done and will need a lot of work to safeguard the council’s finances while getting a deal that gives us the quality of housing we need and generates the capital required to pay the consortium and finance the development.”
Southend Labour councillor, Matt Dent, added: “I have been clear all along that saving Southend United is a non-negotiable requirement.
“It’s also true that this is a major development, and one which we need to make sure provides what Southend needs in terms of housing and doesn’t expose the council to unacceptable risks.”

Responding to Labour concerns following the meeting, Tory council leader Tony Cox attacked Labour’s willingness to accept the deal without amendment, only to criticise it following the debate.
He said: “The Labour group sat there and agreed to the paper in full.
“This is another example of Labour saying one thing and trying to do something another way, everyone wants the club saved.”