Agenda item

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 and financial benefits.

This was seconded by Councillor David Brown and supported as the substantive motion being put to Cabinet.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the amendment welcoming the opportunity to be able to make the decision as to who the site is sold to in the future.

In summing up the Portfolio Holder stressed the importance of the disposal of the site and highlighted that this had been consulted on as part of the Local Plan.

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.

Voting: Nem. Con. (1 abstention)

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

To obtain approval for the disposal of the former civic centre in Poole.