Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Finance and Strategic Regeneration]

The Civic Centre has substantial investment needs but also offers an opportunity to meet some of the councils medium and long term accommodation needs. This report sets out options and a recommendation for investment.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration introduced the report which sought approval to support investment in a project to repair, restore, refurbish, and extend the Civic Centre. The project would bring the Civic Centre back into use by the Council as its new civic headquarters, including a high-quality refurbishment of the democratic spaces and the provision of modern office space.

The Cabinet Member reminded Members that the Civic Centre had closed in March 2020 for safety reasons. There had been work completed on helping the Council decide the future use of the Civic Centre and necessary repairs included in the capital programme. However, it had become clear that the costs of the repair work were very high due to its nature as a listed building and the Cabinet Member stressed that the Council had no other alternative but to spend money on the building due to its listed status.

The Cabinet Member put forward plans to spend additional funds to bring the Civic Centre up to a standard that reflected its listed English Heritage status. It was planned to modernise the services and continue to use it as a civic premise, not just for the Council but the community in the long term.

The Cabinet Member commended the report for approval and asked Cabinet to agree proposals to allow delivery of new Civic headquarters for use in 2024. The Cabinet Member would keep member informed of progress.

In view of the time, 9.40pm, the Leader moved to invoked Committee Standing order 63 to allow Committee Standing Order 18 to be suspended and allow the meeting to continue after 10pm. This was to complete the business on the agenda. Cabinet agreed this motion without dissent.

In response to the Leader, the Cabinet Member confirmed that it would cost more than £10m just to carry out basic repairs to the building.

In response to Councillor Dennison, the Cabinet Member stated that the decision to refurbish and improve the building was prudent and would be money well spent. It was more cost effective to spend money on the Civic Centre rather than to spend over £100m on building new Council premises. He added that he could not commit to a final cost, as it was always a risk when carrying out building work that extra costs may arise. He also advised that the car park was separate to these works and any decision on the future use of it would be a separate decision for the Cabinet to make.

The Leader reiterated that, if the Council did nothing with the building, apart from the absolute minimum it would cost £10m. It was further felt that this was not the right time to build a new civic centre which would cost more. Given the listed status and responsibility of the Council, it was prudent to invest in the asset, to allow development of a civic hub used by Council and community.

RESOLVED

1. To agree to the proposed use of the Haringey Civic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 391