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RESOLVED:
1.   
That the strategy for future use of the County Hall
site as set out in paragraphs 5.14 to 5.18 is agreed.
2.   
The Assistant Director Assets & Environment in
consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Finance
Portfolio Holder is authorised to:

·        
Appropriate parts of the site to planning purposes,
if useful to ensure that they can be disposed of whilst seeking to
secure their future and best use.

·        
Grant long leasehold disposals of Judges’
Lodgings and Centre Blocks, including any ancillary areas or
rights.

·        
Grant long leasehold disposals of the parts of the
Former Constabulary Block and Front Block, including any ancillary
areas or rights, no longer required for the Council’s
operations.
 
REASONS RESOLVED:
1.   
To secure the beneficial future use, and therefore
restoration, preservation, and where appropriate conversion, of
this important and cherished set of buildings.
2.   
To increase the potential for public use and
enjoyment of these important heritage assets, enabling them to
fulfil a valued role in the life of the area.
3.   
To assist the Council to deliver on its goals to
preserve heritage and regenerate Northampton.
4.   
To reduce the Council’s holding costs and
create the potential for capital or revenue income creating better
value for the taxpayer.
5.   
To comply with the legal obligations on the Council
relating to disposal of property.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
The Council has a wide range of
options, relating to each part of the County Hall site. The main
choices are summarised here.
 
·        
Option 1: Do nothing. This is likely to result in
further deterioration of the site and the associated loss of
heritage value. The Council would be exposed to increasing costs of
maintenance, as well as retaining existing operational costs
(utilities etc.). The Council would also not be able to realise the
revenue, community, and heritage benefits that would come from
having the properties in beneficial use.
·        
Option 2: Maximise use by the Council. The buildings
are unsuitable for modern office and similar uses and the Council
would incur significant costs to bringing the buildings into a
fully habitable condition. Given the level of office accommodation
already held by the Council in Northampton town centre (One Angel
Square, and the Guildhall), allied with wider issues with the
fabric of the building (fire escape to the Chamber), there is
likely to be limited potential to pursue this option.
·        
Option 3: Long leasehold disposal of the identified
buildings (Judges Lodgings, Centre Block, and potentially parts of
the Former Constabulary Block and Front Block) and the active
management of the retained elements to facilitate any relevant WNC
and third-party occupation. This should maximise productive use of
the buildings, reduce costs, produce some capital receipts (or,
less likely, revenue rent), and help secure the future of the
buildings for the public good.
 
Option 3 is recommended for the
reasons outlined above.