Agenda item

Rocket House Building, Cromer - Repairs, Maintenance and Energy Improvement Works

Rocket House Building, Cromer - repairs, maintenance and energy improvement works

Executive Summary

The Rocket House building is a multi-let property with community facilities on Cromer East Promenade that now requires substantial repairs, maintenance and energy improvement works to ensure a sustainable future for the building.

 

Officers have considered a range of options seeking to provide best value to the Council and to continue providing accommodation to the existing tenants, along with retention of the public toilets and lift.

 

This public report places in the public domain the likely need for further investment in this building, but due to issues of commercial sensitivity relating to tenant leases, and the need to procure a programme of works in the building, much of the detail is included in an exempt appendix.

 

Options considered

 

As listed in the exempt Appendix A

 

Consultation(s)

Coastal Team, Property Services/Car Parks, Eastlaw, Climate & Environmental Policy

 

Recommendations

 

That Cabinet

 

1.    Considers the options detailed in the exempt appendix A and advises officers as to which is the preferred option, or priority of options and

2.    Requests a further report to be presented in due course on the preferred option or options.

.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

To respond to the need for essential repairs, maintenance and energy improvement works to the building.

 

Background papers

 

Background papers are exempt:

Exempt Appendix

 

 

 

Wards affected

Cromer Town and Suffield Park

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr L Shires, Cllr H Blathwayt, Cllr A Varley, Cllr L Withington

Contact Officer

Renata Garfoot, Asset Strategy Manager Renata.garfoot@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

Links to key documents:

 

Corporate Plan:          

Our greener future

Developing our communities

Investing in our local economy and infrastructure

A strong responsible and accountable Council

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                

A capital budget of £1,000,000 has been allocated as part of the annual budget setting process to address the maintenance issues of this asset.

Council Policies & Strategies

Asset Management Plan 2018 - 22

 

Corporate Governance:

 

Is this a key decision 

 Yes

Has the public interest test been applied

Exempt information – commercially sensitive data.

This report and appendices are to be treated as exempt for the following reason:

Information in this report and appendices involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3, Part 1 of schedule 12A (as amended) to the Local Government Act 1972.

These paragraphs relate to:

3.    Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons:

Paragraphs 3 The documents contain information relating to the business affairs of third parties and of the Council, and it is considered that those interests in withholding the information outweigh the public interest in disclosure. 

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

None

 

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

1.     To consider the options detailed in the exempt appendix A and to advise officers as to which is the preferred option, or priority of options following a further confidential briefing on the technical issues affecting the site and building.

2.     To request a further report to be presented to Cabinet in due course on the preferred option or options.

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

To respond to the need for essential repairs, maintenance and energy improvement works to the building.

 

 

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced this item. He welcomed the members of the public in attendance and apologised in advance that most of the discussion would be in private session due to commercial sensitivities. He explained briefly that the building was suffering extensive corrosion to the steel frame along with extensive damp issues. The full extent of the problem had not been fully determined but the deterioration had happened more quickly than anticipated. Although the possibility of claiming some of the cost for repairs from the principle building contractor had been explored, a considerable amount of time had passed and the initial building contractor was no longer operating.

 

There were a number of issues that needed to be considered – including net zero targets, EPC ratings and accessibility issues relating to the lift. He said that it was of historical importance that the RNLI museum was able to continue to operate from the building but the Council had no obligation regarding this. The other tenant in the building had been extremely successful and supported local employment and contributing to the visitor offer. He concluded by saying that external funding options would need to be considered, alongside the other options that were set out in the confidential papers.

 

It was proposed by Cllr T Adams, seconded by Cllr W Fredericks and

 

RESOLVED to pass the following resolution:

 

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

 

That the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reason – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). The appended reports contain commercially confidential information.

 

The meeting went into private session at 11.02am.

 

Members considered the information contained within the confidential papers. The meeting returned to public session at 11.39am.

 

The Chairman thanked everyone for their input. He said that there had been a detailed and thorough discussion about the various options and issues and the potential impact on the tenants.

 

Members had agreed that a further report should be presented in due course on the potential options and there would be a further confidential discussion to once there was an update on the technical issues.

 

It was proposed by Cllr T Adams, seconded by Cllr P Heinrich and

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    To consider the options detailed in the exempt appendix A and to advise officers as to which is the preferred option, or priority of options following a further confidential briefing on the technical issues affecting the site and building.

2.    To request a further report to be presented to Cabinet in due course on the preferred option or options.

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

To respond to the need for essential repairs, maintenance and energy improvement works to the building.

 

 

Supporting documents: