Peterborough city councillors have formally intervened to pause the controversial sale of a community complex that houses the Bharat Hindu Samaj temple and a vital soup kitchen.
A "call-in" request was granted after the authority's cabinet had approved the disposal of the New England Complex in Millfield to an unnamed preferred bidder, known only as "Bidder B". The decision to sell the site on Rock Road is part of the council’s ongoing strategy to liquidate assets and reduce public debt, which has faced significant local opposition.
The call-in was spearheaded by Liberal Democrat councillors Ann Shaheed and Asif Shaheed, alongside independent member Roger Antunes. They successfully argued for an extraordinary scrutiny committee meeting to review the cabinet's decision. The Bharat Hindu Samaj, established in 1986, serves approximately 13,500 worshippers across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Leicestershire.
Temple’s leaders expressed devastation after learning their own £1.3 million bid, which they believed included a social value discount, was bypassed in favour of a higher offer from the open market.
A specific date for the extraordinary scrutiny committee meeting has yet to be announced, but the session will evaluate whether the council properly balanced financial gain against the loss of an essential community hub.
While the council maintains it must achieve the "best possible value" for taxpayers, temple vice-president Ekta Patel argued that the centre saves the authority millions by providing health workshops and charitable services. The sale process remains suspended until the committee concludes its debate on the next steps.