CAERPHILLY Council will buy Markham Resource Centre from Gwent Police for £57,500, it was decided yesterday.

The police authority offered to sell the freehold to the council, with the local authority’s cabinet agreeing to the purchase.

It is a former police station, rented by the local authority’s social services directorate to support adults with learning disabilities since 1996.

Areport by facilities manager for social services Richard Jones outlined how the acquisition would save the local authority nearly £12,000 over the next 11 years.

The lease for Markham Resource Centre runs until 2022, and with an annual rent of £5,750, the council would spend £69,000 over the remaining term of the lease. With this in mind, Caerphilly’s valuation section deemed a price of £57,500 inclusive of VAT for the freehold acceptable.

There are currently 14 people with learning disabilities attending the resource centre, 12 on a daily basis and all living within 2.4 miles of the site.

The service provides support for a wide range of needs such as personal care, epilepsy, eating and drinking, moving and handling, administering medication and challenging behaviour.

Its main aim is developing users’ skills and independence at the base and in the wider community.

It has a sensory garden and is involved in many integrated community classes.