Decision details

Audio Recording – Start of Item – Session 1 - 1 hour 9 minutes 40 seconds

Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Bernard Lovewell declared a declarable interest in that he was a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (Council Charities). He would follow the legal advice given in the past and leave the room for the duration of the debate and vote for both the Part 1 and Part two items on the agenda regarding this issue.

Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Michael Weeks declared a declarable interest in that he was a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (Council Charities). He would follow the legal advice given in the past and leave the room for the duration of the debate and vote for both the Part 1 and Part two items on the agenda regarding this issue.

RESOLVED:

(1)     That the content of the report be noted;

(2)     That the Settlement Agreement appended to the Part 2 report, as Appendix B, will be provided as a final offer to HTHL/HTHF. HTHL would be required to fully accept the Settlement Agreement by holding an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) by the 31 October 2018. Subject to agreement in principle and HTHL having set a date for their EGM, a date would then be arranged for mid-November for an extraordinary Cabinet meting and a Cabinet Sub-Committee (Council Charities) meeting to consider the final Settlement Agreement.

(3)     That in the event that:

·                HTHL/HTHF do not agree to the Settlement Agreement; or

·                HTHL does not agree to take the Settlement Agreement to an EGM by the 31   October 2018; or

·                the Settlement Agreement is not approved at an EGM of HTHL by 31 October 2018;

the Settlement Agreement and current Purchase Price offer will be withdrawn by the Council. A date for an extraordinary meeting of Full Council will be set to consider the use of Compulsory Purchase powers in relation to 14/15 Brand Street as soon as possible.

REASON FOR DECISION: To avoid any further extension to the period of negotiation. If required to move to the use of Compulsory Purchase powers as quickly as possible. All with the ultimate aim of being able to fully open the District Museum and Hitchin Town Hall as soon as possible, whilst still protecting the interests of the Council.

Councillors Lovewell and Weeks returned to the room.