Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People and Economy, on the proposed sale of the Council’s reversionary freehold interest in The Establishment (Former Halton Business Forum).

The Board was advised that the former Halton Business Forum was currently leased to SJL Leisure Ltd for a term of 150 years from November 2008. The original proposal was for the leaseholder to develop the site for a hotel and a substantial two storey extension was built at the rear of the original listed building to facilitate this.

It was reported that, due to the downturn in the economy, the only area of the building in use was the ground floor bar, the remainder of the property was unoccupied. As the leaseholder would now like to develop the vacant area to provide office space close to the town centre, it was reported he had made an offer of £20,000 (plus professional costs) to the Council for the disposal of the Freehold Interest. This amount would be paid in instalments, as set out in the report.

RESOLVED: That

1)    disposal of the Freehold interest on the basis set out in the report, be approved; and

2)    the Operational Director, Economy, Enterprise and Property, be authorised to arrange for all required documentation to be completed to the satisfaction of the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services.