To consider a report of the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration.

That the Executive:

1.    Noted the update in respect of the process to secure the leasehold disposal of Altrincham Town Hall as a site which has been approved and included within the Council’s Strategic Land Review Programme for 2022/23 as detailed in the report;

2.    Approved the commencement of a formal open tender process to explore the disposal of Altrincham Town Hall via a lease;

3.    Delegated approval to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, to agree the final tender assessment criteria;

4.    In accordance with previous delegations, reaffirmed the approval to delegate to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, the authority to identify and confirm the successful bidder following the conclusion of the open tender process;

5.    In accordance with previous delegations, reaffirmed the approval to delegate to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, the authority to agree the terms and conditions of, and to enter into, all legal documents and/or agreements in respect of the leasehold disposal of Altrincham Town Hall;

6.    Noted the previous approvals and delegations in respect of the disposal of Altrincham Town Hall as detailed in the report.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration presented to the Executive a report providing an update on the position in respect of Altrincham Town Hall, following its inclusion in the Council’s 2022/23 Strategic Land Review Programme and the subsequent nomination of the Town Hall as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). The report further provided Members with an overview of activities to date and contained details of the next steps to be taken. It was noted that the council had conducted a fair, transparent, and legally compliant process, whereby community groups had been given an opportunity to bid to take over the Town Hall.

Members were informed that at this point in the process the Council had three options:

· Option 1 - Accept one of the business case bids received; or

· Option 2 - Conduct a further formal open tender process to find a lessee for the property; or

· Option 3 - Retain the asset and continue to manage it in house.

It was reported that the Council would commence a formal tender process to request proposals from groups and businesses that were interested in taking on the lease of Altrincham Town Hall. This would be an open tender process with any commercial and community proposals considered, as long as they met the assessment criteria outlined in the report.

Councillor Jerrome and Newgrosh thanked the Executive for listening to residents and adopting the Council’s approach to the process involved, which they felt was a sensible way forward that would value the community benefits as well as the financial benefits.

In response to a question from Councillor Newgrosh around weighting of the scoring criteria, the Executive Member informed the meeting that the council would be able to confirm this detail within the next few weeks, as the next stage of the process had just started. It was noted that the weighting criteria would be provided to all potential bidders when appropriate.

Councillor Whetton also welcomed the review of the process being used by the Council and wished to highlight that the building was a niche asset which added value to the community and suggested a rating be used on the bids, such as value to the community.

Councillor Whetton also felt the sums of money involved from the Council was not so significant that the Council could take a flexible approach to this asset.

In response the Leader informed Members that the criteria to be used for bids received, did cover what Councillor Whetton had suggested, for example, looking at protecting the building for future generations and it being a heritage asset.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration accepted that this was a sensitive topic and recognised feedback the Council had received. It was reported that the process was a genuine attempt by the Council to ensure it collected the fullest possible considerations before it reached a fair and transparent decision.

With regards to money, the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration informed Members that the sums involved were not insignificant, especially with the Council having to make further savings this year.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1)    Noted the update in respect of the process to secure the leasehold disposal of Altrincham Town Hall as a site which has been approved and included within the Council’s Strategic Land Review Programme for 2022/23 as detailed in the report;

2)    Approved the commencement of a formal open tender process to explore the disposal of Altrincham Town Hall via a lease;

3)    Delegated approval to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, to agree the final tender assessment criteria;

4)    In accordance with previous delegations, reaffirmed the approval to delegate to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, the authority to identify and confirm the successful bidder following the conclusion of the open tender process;

5)    In accordance with previous delegations, reaffirmed the approval to delegate to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, the authority to agree the terms and conditions of, and to enter into, all legal documents and/or agreements in respect of the leasehold disposal of Altrincham Town Hall;

6)    Noted the previous approvals and delegations in respect of the disposal of Altrincham Town Hall as detailed in the report.