Minutes:
SH.27/18
Members proceeded to consider an exempt report that provided an update on the Batson Workshops project and sought a clear direction of travel from the Board.
In discussion, some Members felt that the Board had been given insufficient time (and detailed information) to be able to reach an informed position on such an important matter at this meeting and it was therefore PROPOSED and SECONDED that:-
‘A Board Workshop on the project be convened before an additional Harbour Board meeting be convened to formally consider this matter further.’
In discussion on this motion, officers advised that the project timescale was already challenging and any potential time delay would result in the anticipated savings from the linking of the two projects not being realised.
(At 4.40pm and, at the request of the proposer and seconder of the motion, the meeting was formally adjourned before it was reconvened at 4.50pm).
Once reconvened, the proposer withdrew his motion but wished to make the following points:
- Whilst recognising that the employment units were ultimately a commercial decision for the Council, the Member asked that the comments made during the discussion by the Head of Assets Practice be formally recorded whereby:
o 50% of the costs of the employment units was to be funded through Section 106 monies; and
o the average rental cost per unit would be affordable for local businesses, but at a market rate (e.g. equating to £5,000 per annum (or in the region of £8 per square foot));
- It was his wish to PROPOSE an amendment to the wording of recommendation 2 in the presented agenda report to read as follows:-
‘That the Board RECOMMEND to the Council to commit to the repayment of the cost of the development (capped at £800,000) which is capped at £36,000 expenditure per year for the lifetime of the loan.’
This amendment was subsequently SECONDED and when put to the vote was declared CARRIED.
- The Member also PROPOSED an additional recommendation to those listed in the presented agenda report that read as follows:-
‘request that a formal update on the Batson project be scheduled on to the agenda for the next Board meeting on 1 April 2019 and, in the meantime, ask that Council Officers provide the Board with a copy of the cost plan from which the Budget was derived.’
This addition was subsequently SECONDED and when put to the vote was declared CARRIED.
It was then:
RESOLVED
That the Board:
1. approve the project to develop a new Workshop at Batson Quay for the sole use of the Harbour Authority;
2. RECOMMEND to the Council to commit to the repayment of the cost of the development (capped at £800,000) which is capped at £36,000 expenditure per year for the lifetime of the loan;
3. note that, in the event of the Board subsequently changing its mind, any abortive costs associated with the projects would need to be funded by the Harbour Authority;
4. note that, in the unlikely event that the anticipated build cost exceeds the £1 million project budget, the Scheme will be put on hold and the Board consulted on the possible options going forward; and
5. request that a formal update on the Batson project be scheduled on to the agenda for the next Board meeting on 1 April 2019 and, in the meantime, ask that Council Officers provide the Board with a copy of the cost plan from which the Budget was derived.