This report advises Council how the long term future of the Corn Exchange building and the Guildhall Museum will be enhanced following Cabinet’s decision on 10 July 2018 in respect of the proposed sale of the Conservancy building.
Minutes:
Discussion:
This report provided details of how the long term future of the Corn Exchange building and the Guildhall Museum would be enhanced following Cabinet’s decision on 10 July 2018 in respect of the proposed sale of the Conservancy building (decision no. 96/2018 refers), as set out in paragraph 2.6 of the report.
The report stated that it was possible that the disposal value of the premises would exceed £500,000, therefore, there was a requirement to submit a report to Council for information only, in accordance with the financial limits in the Constitution.
The Mayor advised the Council that the Cabinet decision on 10 July 2018 to dispose of the Conservancy Building had been called in to the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 23 August 2018. The decision was therefore effectively on hold pending the outcome of the call-in procedure.
The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendation set out in the report with the addition of “and notes that the Cabinet decision is subject to the call in procedure.”
Decision:
The Council noted the report and noted that the Cabinet decision was subject to the call in procedure.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Background:
This report provided details of how the long term future of the Corn Exchange building and the Guildhall Museum would be enhanced by the proposed sale of the Conservancy Building.
It was considered that the exhibits and
facilities which were currently located in the premises, could be
relocated to the Guildhall Museum and Eastgate House and that the
building could therefore be considered surplus to operational
requirements and could be sold. Both the Guildhall Museum and the
Corn Exchange building on Rochester High Street were considered to
be high priority for maintenance and capital investment and it was
proposed that some of the capital receipt realised from the sale of
the Conservancy Building could be used to fund those and other
maintenance works identified, subject to stringent governance
arrangements and Member oversight.
Decision number: |
Decision: |
96/2018 |
The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Legal Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources to declare surplus and dispose of the Conservancy Building as shown edged black on the plan, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, on the best terms reasonably obtainable. |
Reasons for decision:
In order to secure the long term future of the Corn Exchange and to
enhance the Guildhall Museum.