Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

Report of Chief Officer (Environment)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

Mr Mark Braithwaite who had registered to speak in accordance with the City Council’s agreed procedure and Cabinet Procedure Rule 2.7 addressed the meeting on this item.

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Environment) to seek approval to develop a business case for the future use of the Assembly Rooms.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

As can be seen from Appendix A (to the report), it is clear that there are actually significant opportunities offered from using the Assembly Rooms in a different way.

Clearly this would have an impact on existing traders within the Assembly Rooms. The Council charges minimal rents for stalls and currently there are a number of vacant stalls. Traders are issued with Licences which mean the Council can serve notice on traders at any point.

At this stage the proposal is to seek an in principle decision from Cabinet for a possible alternative trading use for the Assembly Rooms as a tea room / food emporium. This would then provide the mandate for officers to develop a sustainable business case which would then be brought back to Cabinet for further consideration.

Option 1- to approve the principle of the proposal which will allow a detailed business case to be developed

Option 2- to not approve the principle of the proposal. This will mean that for the time being the Assembly Rooms would continue to operate as at present, which based on the amount of vacant stalls, lack of spending customers and the minimal rent charged by the Council is unsustainable for the long term.

The officer preferred option was option 1.

Councillor Barry proposed, seconded by Councillor Leytham:-

‘(1)       That the development of a business case for an alternative trading use for the Assembly Rooms, based on the findings of Appendix A to the report, be approved, including the food emporium and collectables market options.

(2)        That Cairn Consultants be requested to deliver a presentation to Cabinet on their findings.

(3)        That Cabinet meets with traders from the Assembly Rooms to discuss ideas in more detail.’

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)        That the development of a business case for an alternative trading use for the Assembly Rooms, based on the findings of Appendix A to the report, be approved, including the food emporium and collectables market options.

(2)        That Cairn Consultants be requested to deliver a presentation to Cabinet on their findings.

(3)        That Cabinet meets with traders from the Assembly Rooms to discuss ideas in more detail.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Environment)

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision will enable Cabinet to consider options for the development of a sustainable trading use for the Assembly Rooms.