Issue - meetings

To consider the call-in of the above decision.

The Chairman outlined the procedure for the Call-in of the decision of the Cabinet Member for Prosperity made on the 27^th June 2011 to declare the site of the Crewe Heritage Centre surplus to the requirements of Cheshire East Council.

The Chairman clarified to those present, that the decision was not related to the future of the Centre but to the ownership of the land.

On behalf of the eight Members who had signed the Call-in, Councillor D Flude addressed the Committee and outlined the reason for the Call-in which stated:

‘That Members have not been provided with adequate information about the site occupied by the Crewe Heritage Centre i.e. site plan and estimated value of site, that the proposed lease of 125 years is not best in the interest of the Borough of Cheshire East or the towns people of Crewe town’

Councillor Flude added that:

·        The group recognised that the current situation on site was not perfect but the proposal to offer a 125 year lease for sale on the open market would disadvantage some groups at this point in time due to their lack of funds and suggested that the future of the site should be considered in conjunction with other Heritage sites within Crewe, such as the Lyceum Theatre, Municipal Buildings and the Library.

·        The ‘Call-in’ group were not opposed to the principle of a new lease but considered that it was premature to offer the lease at this point in time and the needs of the town of Crewe as a whole needed to be taken into account.

Councillor D Brickhill also addressed the Committee on behalf of the group and stated that:

·        The Engineering activity on the site was occurring on land appropriated by LNWR since the original permission to use part of the site was granted by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in the 1990’s.

·        The Trustees should be given time to process their application for £2 million grant funding from the Heritage Lottery fund.

·        There were sites elsewhere in Crewe that were more suitable for the heavy engineering activities carried out at the site by LNWR

Councillor Macrae Prosperity Portfolio Holder outlined the decision taken on 27 June, referring to the Report Summary (item 5 appendix 2). The Council was seeking to establish a long-term viable future for the Crewe Heritage Centre, by regularising an inherited position from the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council. He acknowledged that tensions existed between the trust and LNWR.

Councillor Macrae clarified that the new 125 years lease was a ‘head lease’ and would have restrictive covenants to protect the site for rail heritage. The remaining 30 years of the current lease would also have to be adhered to.

The decision to sell a 125 year lease offered an opportunity to set out a clear way forward for the site and the Heritage Centre. It was suggested that the new lease would provide added security for the long term viability of the site and would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 128