Agenda item

This report is presented to allow members to consider and review the options available for the future of the property located at 11 & 12 High Street, Wisbech and to provide officers with instructions on the preferred course of action.

The Report and Schedules 3 and 5 to this report comprises exempt information - to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting for Items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated.”

Members considered the Considerations of initial options for the future redevelopment of 11 & 12 High Street, Wisbech report presented by Councillor Seaton.

Councillor Tierney said he supports this, one of the problems with private buildings in old towns is if they fall into disrepair, they can become difficult to fix and the impression people get is that the town itself is becoming run down. In those instances, it is always expected that local councils will step in and fix them. However their powers over private property are limited, nobody wants to pay more council tax, and this Council aspires not to charge more but sometimes that is the only way. A future unitary authority will most likely do nothing about buildings like these, so it is this Council’s last opportunity to fix two buildings that have been known about for a long time before they get even worse.

Councillor Hoy queried the mention of finance and Wisbech Town Board funding. Councillor Seaton responded that officers have merely looked at all opportunities. Councillor Boden added that as with all Fenland Inspire! projects, financing will be looked at separately from the authorisation of them so there is no obligation for it to be covered by the Wisbech Town Board Fund but only a possibility. Councillor Hoy said she would be disappointed to see that mentioned in a report again, other towns are having capital money spent on them from Fenland and it seems unfair that money for Wisbech may be spent on the Council’s current obligations, which is not right. Councillor Seaton said £1m from the Lottery Fund is still available but all funding options have to be looked at.

Proposed by Councillor Seaton, seconded by Councillor Tierney and AGREED:

·         To note the contents of the report.

·         That officers progress with Option 2 as detailed herein up to and including the grant of planning consent and tender return and the expenditure of £75,000 of capital monies to deliver this work is also approved.

·         That upon completion of the tender return the matter be brought back before Cabinet for approval prior to any commitment to the project commencing.