Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Decision Made
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
The
report outlines the detailed design and firm offer for the
development of Calverley Square highlighting the funding package
and seeking approval to enter into the construction contract with
Mace taking all necessary steps to deliver the scheme. The report
also sets out the place-shaping proposals for the current civic
complex.
Part of this meeting may be held in private in
accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972
(as amended) by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the
Act.
Decision:
RESOLVED –
That Full Council be recommended:
- That, given the
importance of culture and leisure to the town’s economy and
social environmental and economic wellbeing, and in recognition of
the planned growth to the Borough’s population, this Council
endorses the principle that it wishes to provide a theatre that
meets the needs of residents, visitors and producers.
- That Full Council
endorse that the project designed to RIBA Stage 4 (Technical
Design) (in accordance with Full Council, Decision FC50/17 on 6
December 2017 and all relevant Cabinet and delegated decisions) be
approved for funding and delivery;
- Full Council
approve:
a.
an additional gross budget of £18m for the delivery of the
Calverley Square scheme and delegates to the s151 Officer in
consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance
to determine the sources of funding to deliver the scheme.
b.
the use of the Calverley Square Reserve to ensure the successful
delivery of the Calverley Square scheme and delegates to the s151
Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and
Governance the management of receipts and payments from the
reserve.
c.
the Council entering into the second stage of the Design and Build
contract with Mace to progress the development to completion and
delegate all related necessary steps to the Head of Economic
Development and Property, S151 Officer and Monitoring Officer, in
consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property, Major Projects
and Strategic Engagement and Portfolio Holder for Finance and
Governance.
- That the Head of
Legal Services be authorised to complete all legal formalities as
are necessary and incidental to the recommendations in this Report
and to the decisions referred to in paragraph 1 of this Report and
to negotiate, execute and complete all necessary agreements and
deeds arising from or ancillary or incidental to the delivery of
the Calverley Square scheme.
- Full Council
declare the Civic Complex (Town Hall, Assembly Hall Theatre, 9-10
Calverley Terrace and associated car park) surplus and delegate to
the Head of Economic Development and Property and S151 Officer, in
consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property, Major Projects
and Strategic Engagement and Portfolio Holder for Finance and
Governance to:
- Undertake the
internal procedural steps required to enable the Civic Complex to
be treated as surplus to requirement at the appropriate time.
- Further
investigate and refine a placeshaping
proposal for the disposal and redevelopment of the Civic Complex
bringing a report(s) on the final approach and valuation for
decision/s at Cabinet prior to completion of the approved Calverley
Square development;
- Enter into formal
discussions with the Police and Crime Commissioner for the
acquisition of or partnership arrangements to enable the Police
Station to be brought forward as part of the Civic Complex.
- That Full Council
delegate authority to the Head of Economic Development and
Property, and S151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio
Holder for Property, Major Projects and Strategic Engagement and
the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance (on behalf of the
Council as land owner) to:
- resolve that the
Council’s interests in the land within the development site
and such minor areas of ancillary land adjoining or adjacent to the
development site be appropriated for planning purposes under
Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 and such other
relevant legislation and to delegate the making of all necessary
preparation to effect such appropriation.
- develop a
detailed fundraising strategy and action plan for Calverley Square
bringing forward a report/s for decision/s at Cabinet.
- In approving the
scheme that the Development Advisory Panel will be engaged on a
formal schedule of dates during the delivery of the work.
- That Full Council
note:
- that all
consultancy fees identified in the report are spent at risk and
that they will be abortive costs if the buildings are not
developed;
- The Equality
Impact Assessment.
REASON FOR
DECISION:
To progress one of the Council’s
priority project in line with the strategic aim to grow our role as
the cultural
centre of the Kent & Sussex High Weald, so
that by 2024 the borough of Tunbridge Wells is nationally
recognised for its vibrant cultural provision
Report author: David Candlin
Publication date: 12/09/2019
Date of decision: 12/09/2019
Decided at meeting: 12/09/2019 - Cabinet
Accompanying Documents: