Readers will remember that we reported yesterday about the massive rent increase the Isle of Wight council are proposing to impose on the Riverside Centre.
We asked the council about the situation before 9am yesterday morning and have just received this response.
Steve Beynon, IW Council chief executive, said: “The council is, as it is with many other properties, reviewing the rent to arrive at a figure that reflects the use to which the Riverside Centre Ltd is being put.
“No wish to be in dispute”
“This has yet to be decided but a range of rents are being considered. The upper end of this range (in the region of £100,000) would reflect a lease that allows the centre to raise revenue by legitimate sub-letting.
“The council has no wish to be in dispute with the Riverside Centre Ltd but it does have a duty to ensure that the public purse receives the appropriate rent for a publicly-owned building.
“In addition, it is important that we are seen to be working with all our other provider partners in the voluntary and community sector in an even handed and transparent way.”
