Agenda item

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

Abstentions: 3

Following the recorded vote on the amendment Councillor Philip Broadhead proposed that the motion now be put directly to the vote, this was seconded by Councillor Judy Butt and agreed by Council.

RESOLVED 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)           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.

Voting: For:62, Against:0, Abstentions:2

The meeting adjourned at 10.26pm and reconvened at 10.41pm.

Councillors Julie Bagwell, Olivia Brown, Judy Butt, David Flagg, Brian Hitchcock, Simon McCormack, Pete Miles and Margert Phipps left the meeting at 10.26pm.