Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

43.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J M Heron and M I Cosin.

44.

Appointment of Substitute Members

To note appointments of Substitute Members.

Minutes:

It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Councillors B Gardner and P J Hawkins and had been appointed as substitute members for Councillors J M Heron and M I Cosin respectively.

 

45.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 37 KB

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

46.

Regent Cinema Update pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To receive an update in respect of the current situation for the Regent Cinema and determine if recommendations need to be made to the Cabinet.

 

The members of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee have agreed to extend the arrangements for public speaking to cover this item of business.

Minutes:

The Chairman, Councillor K Mills, began the meeting by asking the Members, officers and others in attendance to introduce themselves to the public.

 

Director of Environment and Corporate Assets

 

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets provided Members with an update on the previous recommendations made by the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee in respect of the former Regent Cinema.

 

Scrutiny Recommendation

 

Status

(a)  That planning officers be instructed to immediately cease providing pre-application advice to the developers of the Regent Cinema.

 

Members were advised that officers had ceased providing pre-application advice although they remained in contact with the developers.

(b)  That the developer be given 3 months to submit an outline planning application and 6 months to submit a full planning application for the Regent Cinema building and, if these deadlines are not met, the Council take enforcement action in respect of the building.

 

No application, either outline or full, had been received with the 6 months.

(c)  That officers be requested to investigate the heritage value of the Regent Cinema building.

 

No action had been taken as Cabinet had, pending the outcome of other actions, rejected this recommendation.

(d)  That officers be requested to investigate applying for Listed Building status for the Regent Cinema building.

 

No action had been taken as Cabinet had, pending the outcome of other actions, rejected this recommendation.

(e)  That an immediate inspection of the Regent Cinema building be undertaken by Officers to look at whether a Section 215 notice can be issued and a report be provided to a future meeting of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee outlining the action taken.

 

Planning Enforcement officers had visited the site on several occasions and the site was now tidier. In addition, the owners had undertaken the work that officers had requested to be made to the site. At this point it was considered that there was no need to use Section 215 powers.

(f)   That immediate enforcement action be taken to ensure compliance with the covenant on the permitted use of the Regent Cinema building.

 

This was in abeyance.

(g)  That a local fire officer be requested to conduct an immediate inspection of the Regent Cinema building.

 

An inspection was undertaken and limited recommendations were made which had subsequently been completed.

(h)  That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be requested as a matter of urgency to investigate if the condition of the Regent Cinema building is adversely affecting the Timeball Tower and take appropriate action.

 

There were no concerns in the short term about the Regent Cinema building impacting on the Timeball Tower. However, the Council continued to monitor the situation.

(i)    That Officers be asked to investigate whether the correct level of business rates has been paid on the Regent Cinema building for its actual use over the last six years and the findings, including any action taken as a result, be reported to a future meeting of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.

 

It was confirmed that the business rates  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

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