Agenda item

The report of the Executive Manager – Operations and Transformation is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    Expressions of interest for Lutterell Hall be invited from third parties at the same time that Nottinghamshire Police market the adjacent plot; and

b)    Cabinet receive a full report to consider any expressions of interest as detailed in resolution a) that then can be appraised alongside the options to retain Lutterell Hall for community use.

The Portfolio Holder for Business and Transformation presented the report of the Executive Manager – Transformation, to consider future options for Lutterell Hall.       

The Portfolio Holder for Business and Transformation confirmed that the Police had given the Council a notice to quit the Police Station by August 2020.  The Council currently shared the building with the Police and operated the Contact Centre from there.  The Council was continually reviewing its assets and how best to provide community facilities.  The report had illustrated that Lutterell Hall was currently underutilised as a community facility, with usage declining by 25% over the last year. The Council was initially considering the market value of the property, particularly given the proposed disposal of the Police Station, it was not considering its disposal.  In beginning the process, the Cabinet would be presented with future options, following a full consultation process with user and community groups.  The Council had an exemplary record of providing community facilities throughout the Borough and would continue to do so.  

The Portfolio Holder for Business and Transformation advised that in order to better reflect the spirit of the report, he proposed that the recommendations in the report be amended as follows:

a)    Cabinet agrees that expressions of interest for Lutterell Hall be invited from third parties at the same time that Nottinghamshire Police market the adjacent plot; and

b)    Cabinet receive a full report to consider any expressions of interest as detailed in resolution a) that then can be appraised alongside the options to retain Lutterell Hall for community use.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Mason stated that she was pleased that Cabinet had received the report to allow the consultation process to commence.

Councillor Robinson stated that it was good practice and in the best interest of all residents, that the Council reviewed its assets to ensure that local communities were provided with the best facilities, and given value for money and the report formed part of that process.  The Borough was fortunate to have many execptional community assets and all of those projects began with a review by Cabinet, followed by extensive consultation with all stakeholders.  The Council was extremely proud of its assets and did not readily dispose of them, as the Council’s records highlighted.  Lutterell Hall was a significant asset to the local community and the Borough, and it was vital that it was reviewed to ensure that it was fit for purpose, and no options had been ruled out.  It was a legal requirement that a report be submitted to Cabinet and agreed before the consultation process could commence and the Cabinet had made a commitment that all stakeholders would be consulted.  The revised recommendations better reflected the needs of the Council to review its assets and to work with the community to provide a positive outcome.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    Cabinet agrees that expressions of interest for Lutterell Hall be invited from third parties at the same time that Nottinghamshire Police market the adjacent plot; and

b)    Cabinet receive a full report to consider any expressions of interest as detailed in resolution a) that then can be appraised alongside the options to retain Lutterell Hall for community use.

Reason for Decision

Nottinghamshire Police will be marketing the adjacent plot for disposal.  The public consultation and consideration of any expressions of interest would allow Members to make a considered decision on the future of Lutterell Hall weighed up against community and other investment implications.  The recommendations have been revised to better reflect the spirit of the report.