Decision details

To consider recommending to the Executive that we stop offering our Heritage Service education provision from the Victorian Schoolroom and then include the property (39½ Castle Street) in an auction including several other properties nearby.

Decision:

1.     To cease the Victorian schoolroom/ playroom education offer in its current form.

2.     To release the asset (39½ Castle Street) for inclusion in an auction of nearby properties.

3.     To ringfence the capital receipt from the sale of 39½ Castle Street for future use in finding an alternative location for key Heritage Service activities.

Reason(s):

To release resources which can be dedicated to other key areas of the Heritage Service and to generate a capital receipt which will contribute to developing a sustainable offer for the service in the future, including a new location for museum/ gallery activities.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

1.    Continue with the current provision, requiring ongoing financial support and without generating funds to help sustain the future Heritage offer.

2.    Find a new location for the VSR provision which will likely require increased ongoing financial support as well as additional (unplanned) expenditure to set up the new offer.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

Councillor John Redpath declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a Friend of Guildford Museum.