Issue - meetings

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.

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.

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.

Reasons for decision:

In order to secure the long term future of the Corn Exchange and to enhance the Guildhall Museum.