Agenda item - Brighton Town Hall: City Hall and Civic Office Proposals

Report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached.

RESOLVED – That the Committee:

1)     Agrees that Officers continue to develop the Civic Office proposals, including piloting a programme of civic events hosted by the mayor’s office, linked to attracting inward investment and supporting key business-related campaigns or policy initiatives.

2)     Agrees that Officers further develop designs and a financial business case to refurbish and modernise Brighton Town Hall to become a multi-sector hub for business growth, international trade, inward investment activity, and destination marketing to position the City as ‘open for business’, and that the full business case will return to a future Policy, Resource and Growth committee for consideration.

3)     Agrees that Officers design a role and a recruitment process for a number of ‘city ambassadors’: a small pool of council-recognised people drawn from the business sector.  Proposals around the ambassador role will developed in consultation with the Leaders Group with a view to the first appointments being made in the 2017/18 municipal year.  

148.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture in relation to Brighton Town Hall: City Hall and Civic Office Proposals. Brighton Town Hall was a landmark of the city. It was centrally located, adjacent to the Customer Service Centre in Bartholomew Square, and accommodated important life events such as wedding ceremonies and the registration of births, deaths and marriages. It was a building of political significance, hosting Full Council meetings and coordinating electoral events. However, the building was under occupied and substantial grade two listed structure with ever increasing required maintenance needs. The report set out options for continued use of the building, addressing the issues of under-occupancy and increasing maintenance costs. It considered proposals that supported growing business and inward investment through the development of a new civic hub, positioning the city internationally.

148.2      Councillor G. Theobald stated that the building was listed and a local focal point; he welcomed the ‘city hall’ proposals for the underused building, and felt the Council could look further into the work undertaken in Manchester. He was concerned that the historic Council Chamber should remain in use, and agreed that the appointment of ambassadors needed to be done with cross-party agreement at the Leaders’ Group. He was conscious that the role of the Mayor not be downgraded.

148.3      Councillor Sykes noted that the proposals were innovative and interesting; in response to a query it was explained that a low carbon approach was very much being considered.

148.4      Councillor Janio welcomed the creative approach, but expressed his concern in relation to the proposed ambassadors.

148.5      The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

148.6      RESOLVED – That the Committee:

1)     Agrees that Officers continue to develop the Civic Office proposals, including piloting a programme of civic events hosted by the mayor’s office, linked to attracting inward investment and supporting key business-related campaigns or policy initiatives.

2)     Agrees that Officers further develop designs and a financial business case to refurbish and modernise Brighton Town Hall to become a multi-sector hub for business growth, international trade, inward investment activity, and destination marketing to position the City as ‘open for business’, and that the full business case will return to a future Policy, Resource and Growth committee for consideration.

3)     Agrees that Officers design a role and a recruitment process for a number of ‘city ambassadors’: a small pool of council-recognised people drawn from the business sector.  Proposals around the ambassador role will developed in consultation with the Leaders Group with a view to the first appointments being made in the 2017/18 municipal year.