(Asset Management & Economic Development Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached restricted report (C-072-2016/17).
Decision:
(1) That agreement be given to seek to acquire the freehold of the former Police Station in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey to achieve the Council’s objectives contained within the agreed Accommodation and Leisure and Cultural Strategies;
(2) That Officers from the Council’s Asset Management Service be authorised to seek to obtain the property at the best possible price, but within the parameters set out within the report and agreed at the meeting;
(3) That if an agreement was reached with Essex Police Estates (subject to contract) within these parameters, a further report seeking the necessary funding for the capital expenditure within the Council’s Capital Programme and any resulting revenue consequences be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet;
(4) That Officers within the Communities Directorate be instructed to continue to pursue every possible external funding opportunity to contribute to the potential costs; and
(5) That the Chairman of Council be requested to waive the Council’s Call-in procedure for this issue to reflect the timescale for bids being 12 April 2017.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Asset Management & Economic Development presented a report on the potential purchase of the former Police Station in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey.
The Portfolio Holder informed the Cabinet that, following a review conducted by Essex Police with the objective of reducing the cost of its estate, Waltham Abbey Police Station had been declared surplus to requirements and was being marketed for disposal. An opportunity, therefore, presented itself for the District Council to acquire the property which could assist in the delivery of the Council’s Accommodation Strategy, as well as enhancing the Council’s Museum, Culture and Heritage Service for the benefit of local people.
The Portfolio Holder highlighted the key considerations of such a purchase and sought the authority from the Cabinet to submit a bid. If such authority was granted then the Chairman of Council would be requested to wave the call-in procedure for this decision as a bid would need to be submitted by 12 April 2017.
Cllr Mohindra, as Finance Portfolio Holder, informed the Cabinet that he had made the Police & Crime Commissioner for Essex aware of the Council’s interest in the building, who was willing to sell the building for community use and benefit. Cllr Mohindra felt that the purchase of the building would provide good value for the Council and he supported the proposal. Cllr Waller, Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener & Transport, added that the purchase of the building would give the Council a presence in Waltham Abbey, and the Essex Police Museum Collection could potentially be moved there from its current home at Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford.
Cllr Basset, Portfolio Holder for Governance & Development Management, requested more information regarding the financial aspects of the possible deal, such as the savings generated from transferring staff to the building from the current building in Hemnall Street, Epping, and the degree of confidence with the bid being made to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Assistant Director of Communities (Community Services) stated that, following the submission of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in December 2016 and a meeting on site with representatives from the HLF, the outlook was very positive. Cllr H Kane, Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Community Services, added that the Council had an excellent record in attracting external funding for the Museum, and the purchase of the former Police Station in Waltham Abbey by the Council would enable the building to remain a community asset.
The Portfolio Holder reminded the Cabinet that the former Police Station was a large building, which would fit many staff from Hemnall Street and enable the release of the Hemnall Street site by the Council. It was highlighted that there would not be time to conduct a full structural survey before having to submit a bid, but an allocation was being allowed for conversion costs.
Decision:
(1) That agreement be given to seek to acquire the freehold of the former Police Station in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey to achieve the Council’s objectives contained within the agreed Accommodation and Leisure and Cultural Strategies;
(2) That Officers from the Council’s Asset Management Service be authorised to seek to obtain the property at the best possible price, but within the parameters set out within the report and agreed at the meeting;
(3) That if an agreement was reached with Essex Police Estates (subject to contract) within these parameters, a further report seeking the necessary funding for the capital expenditure within the Council’s Capital Programme and any resulting revenue consequences be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet;
(4) That Officers within the Communities Directorate be instructed to continue to pursue every possible external funding opportunity to contribute to the potential costs; and
(5) That the Chairman of Council be requested to waive the Council’s Call-in procedure for this issue to reflect the timescale for bids being 12 April 2017.
Reasons for Decision:
To help meet the objectives of the Council’s Accommodation and Leisure and Community Strategies and to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of Waltham Abbey and the wider District.
Other Options Considered and Rejected:
To not pursue the purchase of the Police Station, which would likely then be purchased by another party for a non-community use. Alternatively, the Council could seek to purchase the property as an investment opportunity for redevelopment to lease or sell on.