Agenda item

This matter is the responsibility of Executive Councillor for Asset Management and Economic Development, Councillor Marcus Kravis.

The Asset Management Team are reviewing ongoing liabilities for Council owned property as part of the 30 year maintenance plan.

During the discussion, the following points were raised:-

·       The Portfolio Holder for Asset Management and Economic Development withdrew the recommendations from the report and proposed two new recommendations, as follows:-

1)    The creation of a cross party working group to consider the options available for Flook House and the surrounding area. With a recommendation from this group being presented to Executive committee on the 21 April 2021; and 

2)    That delegated authority be granted to the Portfolio Holder for Asset Management, along with the Director for External Operations and Climate Change to appoint Members to the working group and to agree the terms of reference for that group.

·       The recommendations were accepted by Councillor M Rigby, the seconder of the report.

·       Councillors agreed that it was a difficult decision to make and were pleased to see a working group being set up to assist with the decision making.

·       Concern was raised on the amount of money that would be needed to refurbish the building and bring it back up to standard as it had deteriorated over the years.

·       Councillors were pleased to see the new recommendations as there had been a lot of public interest in the building and they needed to ensure they investigated all the possible options for the building and space.

·       Councillors suggested the building was sadly in the wrong location and they hoped that a good solution could be found as the building was not listed.

·       Councillors agreed that they did not want the land or building to be sold and wanted to keep it as an asset.

·       Councillors agreed it was a controversial decision and that they needed to be mindful of the future costs if the Council continued to support the building.

·       Councillors suggested that the office space should be promoted as the building was in a good location for the town.

·       Councillors suggested the building was given to the town/borough for the Mayor to use for their civic duties.

·       Councillors requested that the final decision on the building and space be made by Full Council.

·       The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee gave a summary of the points made when the report was debated by the Committee.

·       Councillors suggested that the Working Group should look into options given by the Zero Carbon Forum.

·       Councillors were pleased that the Executive had taken on board the comments made by the Scrutiny Committee.

·       Councillors suggested a public consultation should be carried out on the different options for the building/space.

·       The Portfolio Holder for Asset Management and Economic Development thanked all the Councillors for their comments and would take them on board as part of the Working Group research.  He agreed that the timeline was short but that he wanted a decision to be made.

Resolved that the Executive approved the following:-

1)    The creation of a cross party working group to consider the options available for Flook House and the surrounding area. With a recommendation from this group being presented to Executive committee on the 21 April 2021; and 

2)    That delegated authority be granted to the Portfolio Holder for Asset Management, along with the Director for External Operations and Climate Change to appoint Members to the working group and to agree the terms of reference for that group.

The Leader of the Council and Executive wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.