Decision details

(Report of Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive)

The report submitted by external consultants (Mace) provided an analysis of the town centre and identified the scope, aims and objectives of a review into the Borough Council’s land and property assets in Tonbridge town centre.   Project objectives and recommended next steps to progress the review were also presented.

Careful consideration was given to the options detailed in the Phase 1 report (attached at Annex 1), recommended next steps and the legal and financial considerations.  It was recognised that if the Borough Council wished to progress the review in line with the recommendations of the external consultant the identified workstreams should be scoped to establish those which the Borough Council could progress on its own, those which required support and those which needed to be undertaken by a specialist company.

Finally, the Cabinet recorded appreciation to Mace for the work undertaken as part of the review into Tonbridge town centre assets. 

The Cabinet resolved:  That

(1)             the Phase 1 report, as attached at Annex 1, be noted;

(2)             the Head of Administrative and Property Services be asked to undertake a scoping exercise of the next steps recommended in the Phase 1 report, in liaison with other Borough Council services;

(3)             delegated authority be given to the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, to seek a fee proposal from Mace for progressing the next stage of the review (Phase 2A as set out on page 40 of the report) upon completion of the scoping exercise; and

(4)             upon receipt of the fee proposal, if the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, considered the proposal offered value for money then Mace be appointed if appropriate budget provision was identified.