5 September 2012 - East Devon District Council

*32 Elizabeth Hall site – selection criteria
Cabinet, 11 July 2012
Susan Mendham, Arts Society, Exmouth had chosen to speak on this item at the
start of the meeting. The Chairman now invited other members of the public to
address the Cabinet.
Mike Green, Treasurer of Friends of the Elizabeth Hall said that their short term
objective had been to stop the sale of the Hall and to save it for community use. He
referred to an 11,300 name petition which illustrated the depth of local feeling. He
also referred to a march and public meeting. The Friends had now submitted an
expression of interest with projected income and proposed floor plan. He asked for
community use to be included as criteria for selection and be given weight in the
process.
Godfrey Harris, Exmouth resident expressed disappointment with the Master Plan.
He stressed the need for a community hall and hoped that the Elizabeth Hall could
be retained and allowed to achieve its potential. He asked the Council to listen to the
strength of public opinion.
Jilly Green, Member of Friends of the Elizabeth Hall said that the Friends
represented a significant body of opinion in Exmouth and East Devon. The plans
drawn up were very positive and the building facade was worthy of preservation.
She said it was important to think ahead and plan for future diverse communities.
She said that it could be run as a business and this would support community use.
Richard Cohen, Deputy Chief Executive outlined the key considerations in the report
- setting out the reasons for disposing of the Elizabeth Hall site and processes in
place. Council had now marketed the site and requested financial offers together
with design proposals from interested parties. Members were asked to agree to
selection criteria to be used by the Council’s Exmouth Project Executive Team to
determine the bids.
The recommended principal elements for the criteria were set out in 4.2 of the
report. This recognised local concern by including criteria in respect of a quality
mixed use development that is commercially viable and provides a deliverable and
sustainable development with a positive social-economic impact on the area.
Finance was not the over-riding consideration.
Debate on the report included:
� The strength of local opinion
� The site would be used to achieve a better link between the seafront and the
town
� The sale would help the wider regeneration of Exmouth
� Elements of the vision of the Friends of Exmouth reflected some of what the
Council was trying to achieve
� The building needed considerable investment and repair
� There were 30 potential venues in Exmouth available for community use
*32 Elizabeth Hall site – selection criteria (continued)
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