Agenda item

To place before Cabinet, a Petition reported at the meeting of the Council held on 27 November 2018.

RESOLVED that –

(a)    Officers be requested to undertake further research including giving the interested parties three months to submit a developed expression of interest so that officers can then prepare a report for Members on the options for the site and any proposals from local businesses once these have been evaluated; and

(b)    Mr Walker be informed, in writing, of the Cabinet’s decision and that decision also be published on the Council’s website.

Cabinet recalled that, at the meeting of Council held on 27 November 2018, the Chief Executive had reported the receipt of a petition submitted by Mr Steven Walker, a resident of Walton-on-the-Naze.  The petition had been signed by 105 residents of the District and had requested that the Council make the necessary arrangements (including making a preservation order) in order to protect the Old Fire Station building in Mill Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze from demolition.

In accordance with the Council’s adopted scheme for dealing with petitions this matter was now before the Cabinet on the basis that the petition contained between 30 and 249 signatures.  Mr Walker, as the lead petitioner, had been invited to address the Cabinet, present the petition and outline the action that the petitioners wanted the Council to take. 

Planning Issues

Cabinet was advised that Officers had assumed that what was being asked for by the Petitioners was a Building Preservation Notice rather than an Order.

Members were informed that Building Preservation Notices were put in place by the Local Planning Authority in order to prevent a building being demolished or altered whilst a decision was awaited by the Secretary of State on whether the building should be formally listed by Historic England. It was important to note that if in the end Historic England did not list the building, the Council could be liable for costs as the landowner. The process for applying for a notice was the same for recommending a building or structure be listed.

With regard to the planning history of the site it was reported that the ‘Old Fire Station’ had subsequently been used as a public convenience. The land formed part of a Local Plan allocation within the emerging Plan, (MSA9) ‘Former Town Hall site, Public Conveniences and depot Mill Lane’ though there was some debate as to whether this site would remain an allocation in the Emerging Plan as the Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA 2018) appeared to suggest this.

As far as planning applications were concerned, there was an historic application for the change of use to an office above the convenience. More recently, an application in 2005 (05/01507/OUT) had been refused for the erection of 10 flats on land adjacent to the public convenience/old fire station site. The refusal mentioned a lack of parking and flood risk.

Cabinet was advised that the site was located within the Frinton and Walton conservation area. The 2006 conservation area appraisal only mentioned the site very briefly.

Ownership and Future Use of the Site

Cabinet was reminded that the building belonged to the Council and that the Council was not bound to release it to any party. The Council’s current plan was to remove the building in order to facilitate the delivery of a core statutory service and to make way for a substantial regeneration scheme when that could be brought forward. Any alternative proposal would have to be very attractive and not prejudice those objectives.

Members were informed that the Lead Petitioner has been in contact by email with the Council’s Head of Property Services (Andy White) to state that there were three entrepreneurs who were interested in leasing the building for the following:-

(1)       a community project to enable young people to develop hi-tech skills and knowledge that might enable them to gain future employment; or

(2)       dance/exercise classes; or

(3)       community rehabilitation service for older people and those recovering from surgery/illness.

Mr White continued to liaise with Mr Walker in pursuing the above.

Mr Walker did not attend the meeting. 

The Leader of the Council made the following statement:-

“I note the interest of local residents and the desire expressed in the petition for the building to be retained. At the same time I understand that Historic England has decided not to list the building because it does not meet their criteria of historic interest.

The public conveniences were closed as part of a strategy to focus resources on highly used facilities and to manage running costs. The building is in need of considerable repair which is likely to be a significant factor in future decisions.

I am also aware of the longer term potential of the land together with the adjoining old Town Hall site, which has been derelict for some time, to be redeveloped and together form something that will maximise benefit for both the town and the conservation area.

I would like to thank the community for their views and move the third of the options in the report: “Undertaking research into the matters raised” and ask that the Council’s officers do further research including giving the interested parties three months to submit a developed expression of interest so that officers can then prepare a report for Members on the options for the site and any proposals from local businesses once these have been evaluated.”

It was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor P B Honeywood and:-

RESOLVED that –

(a)    Officers be requested to undertake further research including giving the interested parties three months to submit a developed expression of interest so that officers can then prepare a report for Members on the options for the site and any proposals from local businesses once these have been evaluated; and

(b)    Mr Walker be informed, in writing, of the Cabinet’s decision and that decision also be published on the Council’s website.