Agenda item

Report to follow

The Executive RESOLVED that

(i)           In relation to the called- in decision at minute 55/ E – Settlement of Property Dilapidations:

a)     The £12,000 offered by the parent organisation should be used solely for the refurbishment of the building. In the event that the Council made a decision, within 12 months of this meeting, not to progress the refurbishment the building then the £12,000 should be ring fenced to be used for projects for young people in the Borough with priority being given to those projects which fell within the ward in which the building was located;

b)     The Council’s inspection regime for leased properties should be reviewed to ensure that all properties were subject to regular inspections;

(ii)           In relation to the called- in decision at minute 59/ E – Council Contributions to Collectively Camberley Ltd.:

a)     the decision to add a supplementary estimate of £5,000 to the current capital programme to provide a capital grant to Collectively Camberley Limited be progressed;

b)     authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Environment & Community in consultation with the Economic Development & Transformation Portfolio Holder to award the revenue grant, subject to the provision of a costed business case;

c)      the Police and any other relevant partner agencies in Camberley be consulted on the proposals before they are progressed; and

d)     no additional funding be provided for the provision of the night-time economy event proposed in the original agenda report.

The Executive considered referrals from the Performance & Finance Scrutiny Committee relating to decisions it had made that had subsequently been called-in. The decisions concerned the settlement of property dilapidations and additional contributions to Collectively Camberley Ltd to fund events in Camberley Town Centre, made at meetings on 18 October 2022 and 15 November 2022 respectively.

In relation to the settlement of property dilapidations, the Performance & Finance Scrutiny Committee had not objected to the Executive’s decision to accept the sum of money as full and final settlement of dilapidation payments, but had focussed its discussions on the use of the monies and the Council’s inspections of leased property. These recommendations were endorsed by the Executive.

The recommendations on the additional contributions to Collectively Camberley were reviewed and it was agreed to endorse the Committee’s recommendations concerning the capital expenditure and consulting with partners on the proposed events. It was also recognised that there was no support for the proposed night-time economy event and it was therefore agreed not to fund that proposed activity. However, the Executive decided to progress its original decision to delegate authority to spend the proposed contributions for the remaining additional events, upon the receipt of a costed business case.

RESOLVED that

(i)     In relation to the called- in decision at minute 55/ E – Settlement of Property Dilapidations:

a)        The £12,000 offered by the parent organisation should be used solely for the refurbishment of the building. In the event that the Council made a decision, within 12 months of this meeting, not to progress the refurbishment the building then the £12,000 should be ring fenced to be used for projects for young people in the Borough with priority being given to those projects which fell within the ward in which the building was located;

b)        The Council’s inspection regime for leased properties should be reviewed to ensure that all properties were subject to regular inspections;

(ii)   In relation to the called- in decision at minute 59/ E – Council Contributions to Collectively Camberley Ltd.:

a)        the decision to add a supplementary estimate of £5,000 to the current capital programme to provide a capital grant to Collectively Camberley Limited be progressed;

b)        the decision at minute 59/E to agree a one-off revenue grant to Collectively Camberley Ltd. of up to £50,000 for additional events be confirmed;

c)        authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Environment & Community in consultation with the Economic Development & Transformation Portfolio Holder to award the revenue grant, subject to the provision of a costed business case;

d)        the Police and any other relevant partner agencies in Camberley be consulted on the proposals before they are progressed; and

e)        no additional funding be provided for the provision of the night-time economy event proposed in the original agenda report.

Note: In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct Councillor Shaun Garrett declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was the Council’s appointed representative on the Board of Collectively Camberley Ltd.