Updated 12:43: Altered headline
As we reported earlier today, a Delegated Decision report (embedded below for your convenience) was issued today declaring the intention of the council to sell the Ventnor Winter Gardens to Robert Thompson’s Hambrough Group (RTHG) for £1.
The sale of this public building – an iconic venue in Ventnor for over 70 years – to a private organisation, not known for their community engagement, has raised concerns by many across the Isle of Wight.
As we reported last week, many were concerned by rumours that the terms of the contract had been negotiated so that the RTHG were only required to provide community use of the venue for ten years.
Lack of assurances from council
As you’ll remember, VB tried to get assurances from the council that continued community use would be secured, but their response provided little comfort for those seeking assurances of continued community use in perpetuity.
Hambrough Group insisted on ten year term
The ten year term was insisted upon by the RTHG in this final offer to the council, for which acceptance is being proposed.
The report states
RTHG have advised that it will only accept a requirement for the auditorium to, “be retained and used for a minimum period of 10 years from the date of completion primarily for arts, cultural, educational and entertainment activities and ancillary purposes in support of these activities”. It had been hoped that this covenant could have applied for 20 years and there has been some robust discussion and negotiation around this particular point. RTHG is in receipt of advice that ten years is the absolute maximum it should consider in this clause therefore, whilst confirming that the auditorium is central to its long term plans for the building, it would not accept a period of 20 years in this restrictive covenant.
Support for these terms is also given by both ward councillors, Susan Scoccia and Chris Welsford.
The ward members for Ventnor were also consulted on this point and both are comfortable with the proposals being made by RTHG, stating “”¦we fully support the proposed ten year period guaranteeing some community use, and an equivalent ten year period for the auditorium requiring arts, cultural, educational, and entertainment activities, on the understanding that this is the best way to ensure the building is restored and becomes a vibrant and economically productive Island attraction capable of generating more visitors for Ventnor, whilst at the same time giving local community groups a ten year window of opportunity to work constructively with the Hambrough Group in developing the venue as a financially viable long term community asset.”
Final decision not yet made
The final decision has not yet been made and although officers are recommending option (1) below, four other options are open to Cllr George Brown.
- Agree to the disposal of Ventnor Winter Gardens to Robert Thompson’s Hambrough Group on the terms set out in Appendix D.
- Agree to the disposal of Ventnor Winter Gardens to Robert Thompson’s Hambrough Group on the terms set out in Appendix D amended such that the auditorium is to be retained for the purposes shown for a period of twenty (20) years.
- Not agree to the disposal of Ventnor Winter Gardens to Robert Thompson’s Hambrough Group.
- Terminate negotiations with Robert Thompson’s Hambrough Group, appoint the next best bidder to be the preferred bidder and commence negotiations with it for the disposal of Ventnor Winter Gardens.
- Undertake a new marketing exercise for the disposal of Ventnor Winter Gardens without any restrictions on its use.
For your convenience we have embedded the Delegated Decision Report below. Click on the full screen icon to see larger version.
Ventnor Winter Gardens Delegated Decisiob
Image: © Used with the kind permission of John The Nomad
