Agenda Volume 2 - Methodist Conference

36. Westminster College Oxford Trust Limited:
Estate Development
taken the view that, whilst Pothecary
Witham Weld (PWW) has acted as its
solicitor for many years, as for many
other Methodist bodies, it would
be appropriate in this particular
instance to seek independent legal
advice, leaving the Church free to
use PWW for advice if the need
arose. That advice is being given by
Blake Lapthorn, a firm with a strong
reputation and expertise in the
relevant legal fields. The university
has undertaken to pay all the trust
company’s reasonably incurred
professional fees.
53. It is envisaged that the valuation
discussions will be continuing until
much nearer to the date of the
Conference, and it is only at that
stage that the directors hope to
be in a position to put forward a
preferred option for the Conference
to consider.
54. However we offer here some broad
considerations. The freehold option
would undoubtedly create funds
sufficient to enable the trust to fund
some activities at Oxford Brookes
– such as the Oxford Centre for
Methodism and Church History
and the Chaplain. However it would
be difficult to create an effective
structure which would realistically
enable the present relationship to
be continued on similar terms. In
addition, there are serious questions
about the wisdom of disposing of
freehold land in Oxford, and at a time
when the market is still relatively
weak.
Conference Agenda 2013
55. The continuing relationship would be
easier to make effective through a
leasehold agreement, although there
are still a number of questions to
address. However, the disposition of
such a long leasehold interest would
need to be reflected in the premium
to be paid for the lease.
56. It might be relevant to point out that
the possibility of a development
such as is now being considered
was envisaged at the time of the
merger. The report to the Conference
in 1999 said “… it is possible that
during the period of the lease the
Methodist Conference would be
willing to enter into an even longer
term commitment with OBU [Oxford
Brookes] if it remains satisfied with
the educational provision on the
campus and the relationship with
OBU. But a longer term commitment
will not in any event involve the
relinquishment of the Church’s
freehold ownership of the property.” 7
57. It may be argued that there is in
fact another option: the ‘do-nothing’
option ie to refuse to agree to any
alteration in the current leasehold
arrangement. It must be recognised
that the status quo is not likely to
be a possibility in anything other
than the short term as the directors
believe that the university is
currently strongly committed to its
estate strategy of reducing to two
campuses, and would want either
7. Conference Agenda 1999, para 6.5
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