Agenda item - Community Asset Review

This report outlines the progress made in respect of the Council’s 2025-2027 Strategic Priority 4, in relation to Community Assets and Priority 7, relating to Bourne Hall Museum Service.

It provides an update on the completed Community Asset Review Phase 2 work, which focusses on the 3 key Community Assets (Bourne Hall, Epsom Playhouse and Community & Wellbeing Centre) and seeks agreement on the strategic direction for each asset, as well as approval of investment and quick wins packages.

The paper also provides an update on the Strategic Priority 4 relating to the Museum, further to a paper considered by the Community & Wellbeing Committee in June 2026, recommending an initial investment in the museum.

It also recommends combining the two workstreams , to ensure that a comprehensive and integrated approach is taken going forward, to both achieve best value and deliver a stronger offer to residents.

Following consideration, the committee resolved by the Chair’s casting vote (with the previous voting being tied with 4 votes for and 4 votes against) to:

(1) Note the updates contained within both this report and the Community Asset Review June 2026 (Appendix 2 to the report).

(2) Approve the strategic direction for the three key assets, namely;

(2.1) Bourne Hall, Ewell - development of an integrated civic and cultural hub held by a local authority, improving connectivity between the library, museum, café, events and community functions.

(2.2) The Playhouse, Epsom – commence preparatory transition work towards an independent charitable trust operating model, supported by targeted investment to improve flexibility, programming and commercial performance.

(2.3) Community & Wellbeing Centre, Ewell - partnership-led delivery model, with rationalisation of the site and consideration of future co-location opportunities where appropriate.

(3) Note the update on Bourne Hall Museum and approve the recommendation of the Community & Wellbeing Committee, for an initial investment of £125,000 in this financial year (Year 1) as set out in the attached business case (Appendix 3 to the report) and approve £125,000 for a further investment in year 2 that will be built into a future business case for the wider Bourne Hall, noting the requirements of the section 24 Local Government and Public Health Involvement Act 2007 direction.

(4) Agree to combine the workstreams supporting Priority 4 (Community Asset review) and Priority 7 (Museum Service Review) to achieve best value, best use of resources and to ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach.

(5) Agree a capital budget of £3m for capital investment to deliver critical works aligned to the priorities set out in the Community Asset Review, with a detailed business plan to return to the relevant Committee for approval, noting the requirements of the section 24 Local Government and Public Health Involvement Act 2007 direction

(6) Approve a budget of up to £80,000 to support the development of the detailed business plan for (5) above, noting the requirements of the section 24 Local Government and Public Health Involvement Act 2007 direction.

(7) Note a package of operational ‘quick wins’ will be delivered in line with the approach set out in the Community Asset Review, subject to resource and funding availability. Should further funding be required, this will be developed into a future funding request.

(8) To recommend to the East Surrey Shadow Authority that any consent required to comply with the section 24 direction be provided to any of the relevant budgetary decisions as set out above.

The committee received a report outlining the progress made in respect of the Council’s 2025-2027 Strategic Priority 4, in relation to Community Assets and Priority 7, relating to Bourne Hall Museum Service.

It was noted that appendix 5 to the report had been published as a supplement to the agenda and provided a year 2 business plan for Bourne Hall Museum.

The following matters were considered:

a) Bourne Hall library. In response to a question from a member, the Committee noted that LGR would provide new opportunities for integration with the library service.

b) Bourne Hall Museum year 2 costs. A member of the committee asked a question regarding the costs listed in Appendix 5 to the report for museum year 2. The Chief Executive informed the committee that the estimates for museum year 2 were presented to the committee for information and were not for decision at this time. The year 2 costs would be considered by East Surrey Council at a later date if the committee approved the year 1 proposal at this meeting.

c) Playhouse lighting. A member of the committee asked a question regarding the works to the playhouse stage and house lighting, identifying that there was a difference between the information contained in Table 3 of Appendix 1 of this report and the 2025-26 Provisional Financial Outturn report earlier on the agenda. The Director of Corporate Services and S151 officer clarified that there was a typing error in Table 3 of Appendix 1 which should read “2025/26” rather than “2024/5”. The officer would look into the matter and update the committee following the meeting if necessary.

d) Playhouse charitable trust. The committee noted that it was being requested to consider a direction of travel for the Playhouse at this meeting and that a decision on whether to fully approve the transition to acharitable trust operating model for the venue would be taken at a later meeting of the committee or East Surrey Council.

e) Community and Wellbeing Centre. A member of the committee asked a question regarding the Community and Wellbeing Centre site. The committee noted that the report proposed exploring the rationalisation of part of the site. The Chair informed the committee that this was unlikely to be completed before vesting day for East Surrey Council, but that the committee was being asked to provide a direction for East Surrey Council’s future consideration.

f) Motion to defer. Councillor Steven McCormick PROPOSED and Councillor Kate Chinn SECONDED that the item be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

Following consideration of this motion, the committee resolved by the Chair’s second vote in accordance with CPR 18.7 of Appendix 1 of the Constitution (with the previous voting being tied with 4 votes for and 4 votes against) that the motion was LOST. The Committee then returned to consideration of the recommendations contained within the report.

Following consideration of the above matters, the committee resolved by the Chair’s second vote in accordance with CPR 18.7 of Appendix 1 of the Constitution (with the previous voting being tied with 4 votes for and 4 votes against) to: