Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director of Property and Housing attached.

Decision made:

1.    That Cabinet commits to undertake further detailed modelling and appraisal of Option 1 (Community Use) and Option 2 (small weddings/events venue) with a finalised recommendation and implementation plan back to Cabinet in January 2020.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets, Councillor Matthew Tomlinson presented a report of the Assistant Director of Property and Housing that updated on the outcome of the consultation exercise with residents on three viable options for investment into Worden Hall.

The consultation exercise witnessed very high levels of interest and engagement and feedback proved to be both detailed and complex. The report aimed to provide clarity in relation to the qualitative as well as quantitative data that was identified through the consultation process and recommends the next steps in order to take this project forward.

Councillor Alan Ogilvie commented as to why the offer from the Leyland Masonic Properties could not have been included in the list of options consulted upon by the public. The Cabinet Member, Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, responded by explaining that they were acting on the advice received by the professional consultants that had been commissioned by the previous administration on the viability of the Hall and that option had not been a recommendation.

Councillor Caroline Moon commented that whilst she supported the investment into the Hall, she wanted the Council to be realistic about what could actually be achieved. For a number of years, the Council had exhausted efforts into trying to get people involved in the running of the Hall and also felt that that the Council should make attempts to further explore the option of working with Leyland Masonic Properties if still able to. Councillor Moon urged the administration to keep their minds open as there may have to be compromises made along the way.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster commented that Worden Hall was a public asset that will stay in the ownership of the Council for the benefit of the community and provided assurances to Councillor Karen Walton that any financial issues that may arise would be brought to Scrutiny Committee for consideration before coming back to Cabinet for decision.

Decision made (unanimously):

1.    That Cabinet commits to undertake further detailed modelling and appraisal of Option 1 (Community Use) and Option 2 (small weddings/events venue) with a finalised recommendation and implementation plan back to Cabinet in January 2020.

Reason(s) for the decision:

1.     An extensive consultation exercise was undertaken from 19 August to 13 September 2019, which resulted in over 500 responses to the consultation survey. Feedback was received online, through telephone contact and across four drop-in sessions which were run at Worden Hall between 2pm to 7pm each Thursday during the consultation period in order to enable the public to discuss the options directly with South Ribble Council staff. On 5 and 12 of September, Architectural consultants Purcell, who draft the initial options appraisal report were also in attendance to deal with any questions or queries.

2.     The survey provided a description of each of the three options and associated costs. Respondents were given the opportunity to make comments in relation to each option and finally were asked to rank each option in order of preference,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46