ST Helens Council has been unable to find a resolution with a Sutton church regarding the ownership of land.

The issue regarding the council’s rights and obligations for Sutton Children’s Centre, which is listed as a council asset, was raised in Grant Thornton’s external audit for the year ending March 31, 2017.

Almost 12 months on and the issue – which involves land that is partly-owned by the council and by the nearby All Saints’ Church, part of the Diocese of Liverpool – has yet to be resolved.

In Grant Thornton’s audit findings for the year ending March 31, 2018, the asset is currently on the council’s balance sheet with a net book value of £1.3 million.

However, it says the council’s ownership (rights and obligations) of the children’s centre could not be confirmed.

Cath Fogarty, strategic director for corporate services, said during a meeting of the council’s audit and governance committee this week that it is ‘disappointing’ a resolution has not yet been found.

“There is significant work being undertaken to reach a resolution,” she said.

“It isn’t straightforward, hence why it was in last year’s report. For us, it’s disappointing in some ways we’ve not got to a final resolution.

“The uncertainty arose from the initial finding utilised in respect of the centre.

“It was health funding that funded the centre. They then transferred the funding to the council.

“Then the added complexity was in respect to the land on which the centre resides, which is partly-owned by the council and partly-owned by the church.

“So, given those four dimensions, it’s the lack of clarity around the final ownership.”

Ms Fogarty said work is ongoing around the council’s legal, estates and finance departments and said legal counsel will be asked how to proceed with the issue.

“The position at the moment is that we’re going to seek counsel opinion to get a final position on that because it isn’t a straightforward issue,” she said.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Liverpool told the Local Democracy Reporter Service that it will work with the council to find a resolution.

“The Diocese of Liverpool will happily work with the local church, St Helens Council and any other partners to help move this issue along and reach a resolution,” the spokesman said.