Issue - meetings

Councillor Patel submits a report that outlines why the Council needs to address the structural problems of New Walk Centre (NWC). The report considers the results of the options appraisal project and sets out a strategy for the provision of office accommodation that is modern, flexible, efficient and cost effective.  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations set out in Paragraph 2 of the report.

A minute extract of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 3 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that outlined why the Council needed to address the structural problems of New Walk Centre.  The report considered the results of the options appraisal project and set out a strategy for the provision of office accommodation that was modern, flexible and cost effective.

Councillor Patel noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had considered the report at its meeting on 3 February 2011. He responded to issues raised by the Board and read out revisions to recommendations 2 and 4 of the report.

Councillor Coley expressed concerns that Members were only being asked to consider 2 of the 5 options detailed in the report. He added that there were other buildings that should be considered in addition to the Leicester Mercury building, which because of its location may result in difficulties in travelling to and from the Town Hall. In response Councillor Coley was advised that other buildings had been considered but had been found to be unsuitable, but if further options within the financial envelope arose, these would also be considered.

In response to a further concern from Councillor Coley relating to the recommendation to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader, Councillor Coley was informed that the issue would be debated at council, but it may be that an urgent decision would be needed in which case a special council meeting would be called.

In response to a request from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB), Members heard that a report would be provided to OSMB on the I.T. and telephony project.

Members were requested to agree the recommendations including the revisions to recommendations 2 and 4.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     notes the need for positive action to address the issues at New Walk Centre and the benefits to be gained in terms of releasing funding for other purposes, the opportunity to improve customer accessibility, drive transformational change and improve efficiency;

2)     considers the outcomes of the options appraisal project and supports the need to continue forward with 2 options and confirms that options 3 and 4 be preferred, acknowledging that if a subsequent option meeting the cost envelope, and other strategic criteria is identified then it too is given further consideration;

3)     approves the continuation of the options appraisal project to enable further work on options 3 and 4, and authorises the release of £85,000 from the Centrally Located Administrative Building’s capital allocation to fund the additional work;

4)     refers the selection of option 3 or 4 (or any alternative option put forward within the agreed cost envelope) to Council at the end of the extended appraisal period based upon which option provides the most cost effective solution and to enter into necessary contracts to progress the preferred option and release funding from CLAB’s capital allocation accordingly, noting that an urgent decision on this matter is likely to be needed which will require a special Council meeting.

5)     authorises the appointment of commercial agents to negotiate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 188