Issue - meetings

PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of Appendices A or C it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into exempt session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)           note the confidential draft minutes and the recommendations of the Cross-Party Asset Disposal Working Group meeting held on the 20 September 2024; and

(b)           approve the open market disposal of the former civic centre in Poole on such terms to be approved by Cabinet based on a detailed report of bids received to support them in their decision making which includes social, environmental and financial benefits.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox presented the report on the Poole Civic Centre and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

In proposing the recommendations, the Portfolio Holder for Finance proposed an amendment to recommendation (b) so that the recommendations read as follows: -

(a)           note the confidential draft minutes and the recommendations of the Cross-Party Asset Disposal Working Group meeting held on the 20 September 2024; and

(b)           approve the open market disposal of the former civic centre in Poole on such terms to be approved by Cabinet based on a detailed report of bids received to support them in their decision making which includes social, environmental and financial benefits as well as compliance and respect for the Grade 2 listing and the BCP local plan.

This was seconded by Councillor David Brown and debated as the substantive motion.

Comprehensive discussion took place with the following aspects being raised: -

·         Previous agreements to accommodate the Mayor and Charter Trustees and the Coroners.

·         Vertical slice of the original building to be retained.

·         Heritage value of the building.

·         £19,000 per month cost of retaining the building in its current state.

·         Main building is Grade II listed and would therefore be required to be retained.

·         BCP Local Plan states that any development proposals must firstly preserve or enhance the character and appearance of heritage assets and their settings including the listed civic building.

·         Final sale figure shouldn’t be decided by Cabinet but by Council.

·         Concern with regards to the sale of Council assets.

Councillor Mark Howell proposed an amendment to the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Felicity Rice and sought to replace recommendation (b) so that recommendation (b) read as follows: -

(b)           proceeds to market testing on the basis of disposal of the whole site and disposal of the site minus the vertically sliced civic function, and that the viability of retaining the vertical slice in public use incorporating the Poole Mayoralty function and potential community and coroner use be properly considered by the Council with any decision as to disposal being reserved to Council.

Council debated the amendment following which a recorded vote was requested, upon receiving the required support for a recorded vote the amendment as set out above was put to the vote and carried as follows: -

For: 35

Against: 26

This report presents a proposal to dispose of Poole Civic Centre.

Local taxpayers have covered over £2.5m in operating costs for this asset since April 2019. A value which is increasing by circa £19,000 per month. If sold the expectation is that the private sector would bring forward a housing and hotel development proposal in line with the BCP Local Plan categorisation for the site. The Grade II listing of the main building and the local listing of the annexe building would protect characteristics of the buildings.

The proposal to disposal of Poole Civic Centre was considered by the cross-party strategic asset disposal working group on the 20 September 2024. The draft minutes of this meeting are presented as a confidential appendix to this report (Appendix C). The approved recommendation of the working group was as follows.

a)    If Cabinet is so minded to dispose of the site, that it does so by way of an open process, marketing the site on the open market for a 2-3 month period of time;

Cabinet is provided with a detailed report of bids received to support them in their decision making which includes social, environmental and financial benefits.” 

[PLEASE NOTE: Should the Cabinet wish to discuss the detail of the exempt appendices at Appendix A or C it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into Confidential (Exempt) session].

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report presented a proposal to dispose of Poole Civic Centre.

Cabinet was informed that local taxpayers had covered over £2.5m in operating costs for this asset since April 2019, a value which was increasing by circa £19,000 per month.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that if sold the expectation is that the private sector would bring forward a housing and hotel development proposal in line with the BCP Local Plan categorisation for the site, and that the Grade II listing of the main building and the local listing of the annexe building would protect characteristics of the buildings.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that the proposal to dispose of Poole Civic Centre was considered by the cross-party strategic asset disposal working group on the 20 September 2024, and that the draft minutes of this meeting were presented as a confidential appendix to this report (Appendix C).

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the approved recommendation of the working group was as follows.

a)    If Cabinet is so minded to dispose of the site, that it does so by way of an open process, marketing the site on the open market for a 2-3 month period of time.

b)    Cabinet is provided with a detailed report of bids received to support them in their decision making which includes social, environmental and financial benefits.” 

A number of members addressed the Cabinet raising the following: -

• The potential of the Town Council if formed in the future to utilise the building
• Expressing concern that the decision hasn’t properly considered all the principles for asset disposal.
• The heritage of the building should be considered
• Previous agreement to dispose of the building was prior to the possibility of there being a town council.
• Lack of consultation with ward members and local people.
• Part of the building should be used for community use.
• Importance of the vertical slice.

·      Request for Cabinet to defer the decision and consult with residents.

Cabinet members spoke on the item with the majority of members speaking in support of the recommendations.

The following areas were raised by members of the Cabinet: -

·        Vertical slice could provide the opportunity to have a community facility.

·                Usage needs to be financially viable.

·        Grade 2 listing will protect the listed part of the building through the planning process.

·                Maintaining the building at £19k a month is unsustainable.

Following the debate the Portfolio Holder proposed an amendment to the recommendations to delete recommendation (b) as set out and replace it with: -

(b)  Approve the open market disposal of the former civic centre in Poole on such terms to be approved by Cabinet based on a detailed report of bids received to support them in their decision making which includes social, environmental  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56