At last night’s Cabinet meeting, the majority of members voted in favour of giving the Ventnor Town Council (VTC) ‘Special Purchaser’ status in connection with the disposal of Salisbury Gardens and adjacent land (also known as the Coastal Centre).
This approval means that officers can now start the necessary negotiations with the VTC over entering into a 25 year ‘full repairing’ lease that would see the VTC retain the building for the benefit of Ventnor residents.
The building was originally bought by the VTC back in the 1945, but passed into the hands of the Isle of Wight council in later years. As readers will remember, the former IW council had planned to sell the asset as part of their capital disposals programme.
Business hub
As reported here, the VTC have applied for a Coastal Communities Fund grant of £85,00 for refurbishment of that part of the building that is planned to be developed for business start-ups and small businesses in the creative industries and office based services.
Questions over land and financial commitment
Ventnor East Ward councillor, Graham Perks, who last week whilst sitting on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee voted against the proposal, raised two concerns.
First he asked what that ‘adjacent land’ referred to. Officer John Metcalfe replied that the approach from the VTC had been for the building, the adjacent car park and the land in front of the building, but it hadn’t yet been fully agreed.
He added that once agreed, it would be brought back to the Cabinet for approval before a lease was entered into.
Good, secure business plan
Cllr Perks then queried how the alterations and ongoing maintenance would be financed by the VTC, raising concerns that it would put a burden on the Ventnor ‘rate’ payers.
Cllr Gilbey explained that the VTC had put together a business plan of how they would be financing the project and that if the IWC felt the plan was not viable they would not proceed.
He added,
“From what I understand they have quite a good, secure business plan, with decent funding set aside for it. To be honest I think we should give them the opportunity.”
Cllr Gilbey went on to say that insurance on the building was costing the Isle of Wight council £18,000 per annum.
He reiterated that the building would still be owned by the Isle of Wight council and could be clawed back by them if plans don’t work out for the VTC.
No revenue loss from car park
A question was later raised about possible lost revenue for the car park.
No officers were able to answer the question, but as locals (such as Cllr Perks) are aware, it’s a free car park where there is no charge to park.
