Decision details

At its meeting in Nov 2012 Cabinet agreed to progress a preferred option for bringing Victoria Hall back in to community use.  This report updates the outcomes of more detailed feasibilities and sets out an alternative proposal for the operation of the hall.

(1)  The Chief Property Officer is authorised to conclude negotiations for a lease of Victoria Hall on commercial terms, in consultation with The Leader and Cabinet Members for Community Resources and Neighbourhoods.

(2)  The lease must require the tenant to make the hall available to the community and promote such uses, at a rate which is in line with similar facilities in the area.

The original proposals for the Hall are capable of being undertaken and the facility operated within the budgets allocated, only if a very minimal level of community use takes place there.  If greater community use is made of the property there is possibility of an ongoing revenue deficit in the order of £20,000 per annum.

Leasing the property to the Dance School will make it possible to bring this asset back into beneficial use. It will maximise community usage of the building, in line with the resolution of Cabinet, via a third party that will bear all revenue liabilities, whilst generating a market rent.

The other options were previously considered in a report to Cabinet on 14 November 2012