An internal audit has confirmed that the lease awarded for Gloucester’s Hempsted Meadows car boot was conducted in a proper and legal manner.
The audit reviewed the 15-year lease agreement granted earlier this year to Capital Car Boots following a competitive process. Gloucester City Council approved the lease competition in February 2024, after which Capital Car Boots was named the successful bidder. The car boot was initially set to reopen on July 20 but faced a week-long delay due to vandalism; the formal lease was signed on August 1.
At the audit and governance committee meeting on November 10, auditors detailed the comprehensive examination of the leasing process. The report noted that the lease underwent more oversight than is typically necessary for agreements of its value.
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Piyush Fatania, Head of Audit Risk Assurance, stated, “It’s been a thorough piece of work, and the council has properly and legally awarded the lease for Hempsted Meadows.”
When asked about concerns regarding social media comments or councillor information sharing, Mr. Fatania stressed that the audit focused solely on the lease process itself and advised raising behavioural concerns with the monitoring officer.
Councillor Terry Pullen inquired about the absence of a dedicated leasing policy. Mr. Fatania responded that while no specific policy exists, the council follows established financial procedure rules and relies on experienced officers and external consultants, ensuring the process is sound. He recommended developing an overarching policy to consolidate expertise and knowledge.
Andrew Hearne, Head of Place, explained that leasing is a routine activity for the council, conducted under consistent regulations and codes of practice. The heightened scrutiny for this lease was due to public interest, which went beyond typical procedures.
Vice-chairman Andy Lewis acknowledged that social media amplified misunderstandings about the process, leading to unnecessary friction. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome and called for moving forward with implementing the recommended policy to prevent future confusion.
Auditors affirmed that despite the absence of a formal overarching lease policy, the process was executed with a “belt and braces” approach and fully complied with legislative requirements.