New rules and fees have been introduced for the sale of council land in Stoke-on-Trent.

Leaders at Stoke-on-Trent City Council say the application to buy procedures will ensure a 'consistent' approach whenever the authority receives unsolicited bids to purchase land and property.

They say the council is receiving a growing number of 'ad hoc' enquiries from residents and businesses, which is taking up officer time and potentially costing taxpayers.

At the moment the council can sometimes receive bids to buy small parcels of land, such as a grass verge next to a homeowner's property, where the sale price will not cover the cost of processing the application.

Under the new rules, prospective purchasers will have to pay a non-refundable £250 application fee, as well as cover any other costs incurred by the council. And parcels of land sold by the council will have a minimum sale price of £5,000, even if the land is worth less than this.

As well as ensuring all land sales generate income for the council, council leaders believe the new procedures will put off 'speculative' applications.

Cabinet members voted to approve the new rules at their meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: "The purpose of this is to make sure we've got a very clear system in place when people wish to buy small plots of land. It will mean that everyone is treated equally.

"It's perfectly reasonable that people would want to buy small parcels of land, for extending their garden or work around their residential or commercial property.

"We want to support people to do that, but we also recognise that it needs to be done in a fair way."

Council leader Jane Ashworth said: "I've had plenty of people around Burslem asking me how they apply to buy council land, such as three yards of land next to their garden that they want to turn into a driveway, and the answer has never been clear.

"I think it's something that can make the council look a bit dumb if we don't have it streamlined, so it's quite important really."

The council will reserve the right to refuse any application received.

Voluntary organisations seeking to acquire council land for community benefit will generally be dealt with under the separate community asset transfer policy.