Decision details

The Committee:

(1)          Noted the position to date;

(2)          Authorised Officers, following consultation with the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, to finalise a pack of information to be available for anyone interested in putting forward a bid for the building: such pack to be available by the end of February 2016;

(3)          Agreed the allocation of funds as follows:

a)            Up to £450,000 to be available to any purchaser to be expended on the refurbishment and renovation of Horton Chapel;

b)            Up to a further £1 million to be available to any purchaser proposing a wholly community/charitable end use for the building;

c)            Any mixed use incorporating community/charitable uses and commercial use to be entitled to a sum between the above figures depending on the nature of the mix proposed, with the intention that it be limited to a sum up to £500,000 in addition to the sum at (a)

d)            Additional sums to be held at this point as a contingency and to meet the cost of all professional advice and assistance.

(4)          Agreed that bids be invited for community/charitable proposals to be submitted by the end of June 2016; and

(5)          Agreed that a further report be brought to the Committee at its meeting on 28 June 2016 to update on progress and to consider whether/when/how marketing for commercial bids should commence.