Agenda item

Report DRR15/002

Members considered a report setting out options for the future of Anerley Town Hall.

The Crystal Palace Community Development Trust (the Trust) managed a Business Centre from the site for an annual fee and leased the Civic Halls facility at a peppercorn rent. A paper from the Trust was appended to Report DRR15/002. The Trust would also manage an automated book lending facility at the site supported by eight Peoples Network terminals and the Council would pay the Trust an annual fee to manage the Community Library. The Trust was also interested in utilising the vacated library space to the rear of the Town Hall.

However, a new stand-alone telephone system was urgently needed at the Business Centre and a recent survey revealed a significant backlog of maintenance required for the building. The front wall of the building was also subsiding and a significant repairs liability was identified for the next ten years. Repairs for the building were estimated at £1.273m.

Anerley Town Hall is also a locally listed building.

Four options were presented to Members:

• Option A - retain as existing
• Option B  - lease to the Trust
• Option C - sale subject to existing uses
• Option D - disposal of The Town Hall / construction of a new community facility (potentially on the overflow car park of the existing site)

A summary of consultation responses from users of the Halls and Business Centre tenants was appended to Report DRR15/002 as was an Equality Impact Assessment. An updated Interim Business Plan from the Trust for the Town Hall was also provided.

In relation to Option B, suggested heads of terms were also tabled  which could be discussed with the Trust.

Introducing the report the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation highlighted that the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee and the Executive and Resources PDS Committee both preferred Option B. This involved the Council granting a 40 lease of the whole building to the Trust on full repairing terms at a peppercorn rent, but excluding the overflow car park which could be sold. This would enable the Trust to lever in external funding which could be used to maintain the building but the Trust would require the Council to resolve the subsidence issue and upgrade the Business Centre IT. There would also be a loss of rent whilst the works were undertaken prior to grant of lease. The Portfolio Holder also suggested that a firm quotation was needed for rectifying the subsidence problem. 

Councillor Wilkins (Crystal Palace) encouraged Members to support Option B, highlighting the building‘s use as a business centre. Councillor Wilkins suggested that a number of rooms were not occupiable in view of the subsidence problem. She could envisage the business centre servicing both small and medium sized businesses and highlighted the GLA ‘s identification of the area for business regeneration. She also highlighted a need to repair the building quickly to prevent further problems and repairs. 

Noting that underpinning costs could increase as subsidence worsened, the Deputy Leader asked for further investigation on whether any GLA funding could be received for business regeneration in the area. This could help fund underpinning costs and a report could be brought to the Executive with more detail on this and other aspects.

Following concern that it might be necessary to spend further on the building in later years, Councillor Wilkins highlighted that the Trust was prepared to assume responsibility for maintenance under Option B (excluding subsidence repairs and upgrading the Business Centre IT). The Council would also continue to have the benefit of the asset.

Members were advised that the GLA study (suggesting the area had been identified for business regeneration) had not concluded but there was confidence it would refer to business contributing significantly to the area. 

The cost of repair at £1.273m was also broken down and included about  £540k for the maintenance backlog and about £300k for subsidence repairs. A lease of 40 years with Option B would enable the Trust to lever in external funding to maintain the building and address the repairs backlog. 

Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP (West Wickham), as the Council’s Heritage Champion, highlighted the building as a fine example of Victorian architecture. Both the interior and exterior were important. Cllr Bennett supported its retention, making it fit for purpose, and having it open to meet aspirations. Cllr Bennett added that he would not be against an extension to the building as long as its façade was retained.

Concerning Option D, it was suggested that the building site could be of higher value with a potential for additional housing and a new community centre. The service offices would be lost but alternative premises could be provided. The Deputy Leader asked if any thought had been given to the provision of luxury apartments in parts of the former library to help fund a community centre building in the overflow car park.

In concluding discussion, the Leader felt that Option D could not be ruled out and in the meantime asked officers to carry out further work on details such as firm costs for subsidence repairs and IT and to report back to the Executive for final decision. 

RESOLVED that:

(1)  further work be carried out on details such as firm costs for subsidence repairs and IT with a report back to the Executive for final decision; and

(2)  a decision on the installation of a new telephone system at Anerley Town Hall be considered in Part 2 proceedings.