Issue - meetings

In May 2025 Full Council agreed to reverse the decision over the relocation of the civic office to 70 East Street and the Council Chamber to Bourne Hall, in light of Local Government Reorganisation. Alternative interim solutions have been investigated, and this report presents four options and their associated costs for utilising the existing town hall building(s).

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)        Approve Option 1 for implementation as the best value option

(2)        Approve a capital budget of up to £517,200 for the delivery of Option 1.

(3)        Nominate and authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the S151 officer, to approve all necessary project expenditure and release of funds from budget/reserves (up to the approved limit above) through to completion and delivery.

(4)        Nominate and authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the S151 officer and Chair of Strategy and Resources Committee to approve expenditure up to the deferred liability limit (set out in para 2.5 as £477,500) and release of funds from budget/reserves, where necessary, to be able to undertake urgent works.

The Committee received a report setting out that in May 2025 Full Council agreed to reverse the decision over the relocation of the civic office to 70 East Street and the Council Chamber to Bourne Hall, in light of Local Government Reorganisation. Alternative interim solutions had been investigated and the report presented four options and their associated costs for utilising the existing town hall building(s).

The following matter was considered:

a)    Fire Risk Assessment. In response to a Member question regarding the proposed £430k spend, the Head of Property and Regeneration explained that prior to the Local Government Reorganisation decision to move to 70 East Street the fire risk assessment had several criteria that needed to be complied with.  The Fire Authority was happy for these not be undertaken because of the move. The Head of Property and Regeneration reassured committee that the building was safe but there was work needed around fire compartmentalisation of the old town hall to ensure it remained safe for the future.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Approve Option 1 for implementation as the best value option

(2)       Approve a capital budget of up to £517,200 for the delivery of Option 1.

(3)       Nominate and authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the S151 officer, to approve all necessary project expenditure and release of funds from budget/reserves (up to the approved limit above) through to completion and delivery.

(4)       Nominate and authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the S151 officer and Chair of Strategy and Resources Committee to approve expenditure up to the deferred liability limit (set out in para 2.5 as £477,500) and release of funds from budget/reserves, where necessary, to be able to undertake urgent works.