Agenda and minutes

Cllr Daws declared that he was a member of the conceptual Community Benefit Society for the Alexandra Theatre and had been granted dispensation to speak on the matter under consideration but not to take part in the debate or vote. Cllr Daws confirmed he would speak, take part in the debate and vote on the items under consideration.

To note the resolution of  Audit Scrutiny Committee 3rd November 2022

The Chair of Audit Scrutiny Committee presented the resolution of the Audit Scrutiny Committee. The committee had supported the recommendations in the report with the amendment that the Stakeholder Management Plan be raised from low to medium priority and proposed that Council note this resolution. This was seconded by the Leader.

RESOLVED that the resolution of the Audit Scrutiny Committee be noted.

Mr Rob Arthur from Entertainment Services Solutions Ltd addressed Members giving an overview of the advisory report and the commercial analysis.

The Chief Finance Officer clarified that the £600,000 would not be drawn upon until the completion of cinema tenants fit-out.

The Leader proposed the recommendation. This was seconded by the Executive Member for Recycling, Household Waste and Environmental Health and carried.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Leader proposed the recommendation. This was seconded by the Executive Member for Recycling, Household Waste and Environmental Health.

RESOLVED that the additional capital budget of up to £600,000 in relation to the Cinema construction and fit out costs be approved.

A recorded vote was asked for by at least five Members under Procedure Rule 4.13.5.

Recorded vote under Procedure Rule 4.13.5

For: Cllrs Austen, Bullivant, Clarance, Colclough, Connett, D Cox, H Cox, Dewhirst, Goodman-Bradbury, J Hook, G Hook, Jeffries, Keeling, MacGregor, Morgan, Nuttall, Parker, Phipps, Purser, Rollason, Russell, Taylor, Thorne and Wrigley.

(24 members)

Against: Cllrs Bradford, Daws, Hocking, Mullone, Patch and J Petherick.

(6 members)

Abstain; Cllrs L Petherick.

(1 member)

Absent: Cllrs Cook, Eden, Evans, Foden, Gribble, Haines, Hayes, Jeffery, Jenks, Kerswell, Khan, Nutley, Orme, Peart, Swain and Tume.

(16 members)

The Executive Member for Economy and Jobs proposed the recommendation with the deletion of recommendation (3) which was to revoke the requirement to report back to Executive on a monthly basis and to return to reporting by exception. This was seconded by the Executive Member for Corporate Services.

The Executive Member for Climate Change, Flooding and Coastal Protection asked for clarification on whether the market hall business case being discussed, and cinema design submitted to planning committee were two separate decisions, and that voting for one did not predetermine Planning Members when the planning application for the cinema was considered.

The Managing Director responded that the business case and the planning application were considered two different decisions and members would not be predetermination as they were voting on the business case rather than the design which was a separate planning matter.

Members went to the vote and it was carried to:-

RESOLVEDthat:-

(1)  The revised project scope and business case as set out in Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this report for submission as a Proposal Adjustment Request to the Department For Levelling Up, Homes and Communities be approved; and

(2)  The options and timeline for considering the future use of the Alexandra Cinema building set out in paragraph 3.9 of this report be noted.