To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Stockman.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) held on 6 November 2017 and the meeting of the Joint Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team and Joint Commissioning Team).

The Minutes of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) held on 6 November 2017 and the meeting of the Joint Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team and Joint Commissioning Team) held on 10 January 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the submitted report on the above.

Members considered the submitted report which set out the recommendations of the Oldway Mansion and Estate Working Party and officers in connection with the future of Oldway Mansion.  The Executive Head of Assets and Business Services advised that there had not been time before this meeting to discuss the officer recommendations with the Working Party and agreed to meet with them prior to the Council meeting to see if there was a joint approach which would be acceptable to officers and the members of the Working Party to be put before the Council.

The report included a detailed report produced by DCA consultants which provided a number of options and draft costings for bringing Oldway Mansion back into use.  The report would be presented to Council on 21 June 2018 for a final decision.  Members noted the concerns of the Senior Leadership Team in respect of a potential significant financial commitment if the Council committed to fund all of the project as highlighted in paragraph 4.1 of the submitted report.

Resolved:

That the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) recommends the Council:

(i)         that a Project Manager be appointed, on a 12 month contract, to prepare a works specification, procurement strategy and cost estimate for the limited improvement works identified in Phase 1 of the DCA report. That a stage report be submitted to full Council in approximately nine months’ time when the Council sets its 2019/20 Revenue Budget, Capital Plan and Medium Term Resources Plan;

(ii)        that the Council consults further with conservation accredited professionals to identify a strategy for the immediate management of the dry rot outbreak, so as to minimise further damage during the 2018 dry rot active season with any decision on these works being taken in accordance with the Council’s Constitution;

(iii)       that market testing commences now, through accredited agents, to see whether there is interest in securing the freehold or long leasehold disposal of Oldway Mansion and Estate.  The marketing should engage with all interested parties, including charities, trusts, private individuals and commercial organisations, and for local community groups, such as the Friends of Oldway, the Community Asset Transfer Policy would be applicable;

(iv)       that the Project Manager investigates options to establish a café concession at Oldway and possibly other amenities but without committing further to the existing ongoing operating costs;

(v)        that the appointment of a Project Manager, stage report, dry rot investigation and the soft market testing identified above be funded to a maximum of £125,000 from the existing Oldway Mansion Reserve; and

(vi)       that the Oldway Mansion and Estates Working Party be disbanded and the members of the Working Party be thanked for all their work in helping to develop options for the future of Oldway Mansion and Estate.