- What was the decision on the future of the Corn Exchange?
- Who took the decision?
- Most of those who went to the consultation event at the Corn Exchange opposed the Wetherspoon bid so why has the council ignored their views?
- So have councillors ignored all the concerns people expressed, such as drunken behaviour, noise, late night drinking and so on?
- How much more money will the council get from Wetherspoon compared to Abbeycroft?
- If councillors voted in favour of Wetherspoon wouldn't they be biased if they were on the committees later considering planning or licensing permissions?
- Why is the council closing the Corn Exchange?
- Why didn't the council invest in making the Corn Exchange a better venue?
- Why were there only two organisations interested in the Corn Exchange and what were their bids?
- Why can't you let a craft or farmers' market or museum, for example, use the space or simply keep it as another public hall?
1. What was the decision on the future of the Corn Exchange?
St Edmundsbury Borough councillors discussed whether to accept a bid from Abbeycroft Leisure for a soft play centre or from JD Wetherspoon for a pub/restaurant.
2. Who took the decision?
The decision was taken by the full Council on 29 June 2010 – this is the meeting open to every St Edmundsbury Borough councillor. After a long debate, councillors decided to record whether they voted for or against the proposal. A total of 22 councillors voted in favour, 14 against, with three abstaining (not voting either way), one leaving the council chamber for the debate and vote (as he was a board member of Abbeycroft) and five absent.
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3. Most of those who went to the consultation event at the Corn Exchange opposed the Wetherspoon bid so why has the council ignored their views?
The event was not a referendum or vote on either bid. It was a way of gathering people's comments and concerns with the aim of presenting these to all councillors to take into account. The comments were included in a detailed summary in the report (PDF 3.8Mb) sent to all councillors so they could look at them before the meeting.
4. So have councillors ignored all the concerns people expressed, such as drunken behaviour, noise, late night drinking and so on?
No – these concerns can be tackled through the planning and licensing processes. What councillors decided at the council meeting was that the Wetherspoon bid was the best one for the Council Tax payer because it offered more money and less risk.
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5. How much more money will the council get from Wetherspoon compared to Abbeycroft?
A financial comparison (PDF 20Kb) sets out the offers from both organisations. Not only did Wetherspoon offer significantly more, including an investment of £1.4 million in the building itself, there was also a higher risk with the Abbeycroft bid that Council Tax payers would need to fund a high level of repairs, maintenance and improvements (such as air conditioning).
6. If councillors voted in favour of Wetherspoon wouldn't they be biased if they were on the committees later considering planning or licensing permissions?
There is no rule that says councillors cannot consider different aspects of the same matter in two different council forums. Taking part in the debate at Council does not mean councillors cannot later help to make a decision on a planning or licensing application.
The perception of bias can occur when a councillor appears to have taken a view on an issue and to be set on voting a particular way without considering all the facts with an open mind. However, it is accepted that councillors will have views about matters and may be predisposed to vote a certain way. Recent guidance points out 'an open mind is not the same as a vacant mind'.
It is also accepted that councillors do, from time to time, have to deal with the same matter in different committees. This means that members of Development Control Committee will look at the scheme on planning grounds after having given consideration to the landowning aspects of the proposal. The details of planning consents or licensing have to be considered on their own merits, taking into account the appropriate factors.
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7. Why is the council closing the Corn Exchange?
The Corn Exchange is moving on to the next stage in its varied history (PDF 3.2Mb).
Later this year the borough council will be opening our new Apex public venue, within the arc development in Bury St Edmunds. The Apex is designed by the internationally renowned Hopkins Architects and will make an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of the borough and surrounding areas. It will seat 500 for formal performances and accommodate over 700 people standing, as well as offering a completely flexible space for conference and community use.
The Corn Exchange will no longer be needed as a public hall when The Apex opens so for the past few years the council has investigated different uses. Following a wide marketing and tendering exercise the council shortlisted two bids which were then discussed by councillors on 29 June.
8. Why didn't the council invest in making the Corn Exchange a better venue?
The Corn Exchange is a Grade 2 listed building so there are restrictions on what it could be used for and a difficult challenge (PDF 1.1Mb) to make it into a venue suitable for 21st century use. It would be unlikely to get planning permission for residential use, for example. Its first floor access also limits its capacity.
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9. Why were there only two organisations interested in the Corn Exchange and what were their bids?
Over the years the future use of the Corn Exchange has been reviewed and marketed (PDF 773Kb) widely. There were four formal bids for the leasehold, three community and one commercial. One of these was withdrawn and there was insufficient information to short-list another. The two short-listed bids (PDF 772Kb) which came through the tendering exercise were tested to make sure they were suitable uses of the building before being put before councillors.
10. Why can't you let a craft or farmers' market or museum, for example, use the space or simply keep it as another public hall?
The Council is replacing the Corn Exchange as a public hall with the Apex. Nearly all of the existing uses of the Corn Exchange can be accommodated in the Apex (which will have much better facilities) or in theAthenaeum. Council Tax payers simply cannot afford (PDF 1.8Mb) to let the building be empty, or have activities inside which will cost public money to run. If anyone wanted to run it as a commercial venture they could have but in a bid through the tendering process.
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