Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on the options available to Leeds City Council regarding the future of Otley Civic Centre, the public consultation relating to its future, and the Council’s possible involvement in the expansion of Otley Courthouse which will provide more performance and community space in Otley.

(Please note that Appendix 1 to this report is designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3))

The Director of City Development submitted a report which presented the options available to the Council regarding the future of Otley Civic Centre, the public consultation relating to its future, and the Council’s possible involvement in the expansion of Otley Courthouse, which could provide more performance and community space in Otley.

A Member raised concerns regarding the proposals and as such made a request that the matter be referred to the next available meeting of the relevant Scrutiny Board to enable further detailed consideration to be undertaken on issues including: the views of local Ward Councillors and local residents, and also the extensive work which has been undertaken by the Council on such matters over a significant period of time.

Members made reference to correspondence on this issue which had been received from a local resident. In addition, it was noted that correspondence had also been received from a local Ward Councillor regarding North Parade, in that the local Councillor had requested that the full plan of North Parade be agreed before reserving land for Otley Court House and its use for affordable housing.

Following the consideration of Appendix 1 to the submitted report designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the proposals detailed within the submitted report be referred to the next available meeting of the relevant Scrutiny Board for consideration;

(b)  That should the Scrutiny Board be supportive of the proposals detailed within the submitted report, then the following be agreed:-

(i)  That the interest in Otley Civic Centre and the options available to the Council relating to the future of the property, be noted;

(ii)  That the disposal of Otley Civic Centre on the terms as recommended in exempt appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved; and that the approval of any variation to the final terms be delegated to the Director of City Development in consultation with the Executive Members for Regeneration, Transport and Planning;

(iii)  That the Otley Courthouse emerging expansion proposals be noted; that agreement be given for part of the Council’s North Parade Depot to be reserved for the expansion of the Courthouse; and that the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of City Development, to enable the Director to enter into negotiations with the Courthouse in order to agree appropriate terms, which will include public access; OR

(c)  That should the Scrutiny Board not be supportive of the proposals detailed within the submitted report, then the matter be re-submitted to Executive Board together with the Scrutiny Board’s observations, as part of an updated report for Member’s consideration.

(During the consideration of this item, Councillor Blake drew the Board’s attention to the fact that she was a former member Otley Town Council)