Issue - meetings

1.    That the business case be agreed (Appendix 1 of Report CAB3204), which includes for capital investment to convert eighteen71 café to a self contained unit for lease to a food and beverage tenant.

2.    That  capital budget and expenditure by the Council of £130,000 to convert café eighteen71 to a self contained unit for lease to a food and beverage tenant be approved.

3.    That the Council cease trading café eighteen71 café from 1 April 2020.

4.    That the procurement of a new Catering contract(s) be approved.

5.    That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised to undertake the necessary arrangements to cease the trading of the eighteen71 café from 1 April 2020.

6.    That the Service Lead – Legal be authorised to prepare, negotiate and complete the necessary notices and agreements to put in place arrangement to cease the trading of eighteen café from 1 April 2020.

7.    That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised, in compliance with Contract Procedure Rules, to seek tenders to undertake the capital works to convert café eighteen71 into unit independent of the Council; to accept tenders received and to appoint, award and enter into contracts to undertake the capital works.

8.    That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised to seek best and final offers for the lease of café eighteen71 to a food and beverage tenant, and to accept offers received and to appoint, award and enter into contracts to enable the lease of café eighteen71 to a food and beverage tenant.

9.    That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised to select the procedure to be used (including the evaluation model and the any frameworks if appropriate), to seek tenders for the catering contract(s).

10. That the Service Lead – Legal be authorised to prepare, negotiate and enter into the necessary agreements with service providers following a tender in compliance with the Contract Procedure Rules to enable implementation of the recommendations above.

(CAB3204 and audio recording refers)

Councillor Learney highlighted that the Guildhall was currently operating at a loss, with the café operation forming a significant element of this.  Soft market testing had indicated a strong level of interest from other café providers.  Cabinet were aware that a number of groups made informal use of the café for their meetings and consideration would be given to how these groups could be accommodated in the future.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Miller addressed Cabinet in support of the proposals.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the Report.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the business case be agreed (Appendix 1 of Report CAB3204), which includes for capital investment to convert eighteen71 café to a self contained unit for lease to a food and beverage tenant.

2.            That capital budget and expenditure by the council of £130,000 to convert café eighteen71 to a self contained unit for lease to a food and beverage tenant be approved.

3.            That the council cease trading café eighteen71 café from 1 April 2020.

4.            That the procurement of a new catering contract(s) be approved.

5.            That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised to undertake the necessary arrangements to cease the trading of the eighteen71 café from 1 April 2020.

6.            That the Service Lead – Legal be authorised to prepare, negotiate and complete the necessary notices and agreements to put in place arrangement to cease the trading of eighteen café from 1 April 2020.

7.            That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised, in compliance with Contract Procedure Rules, to seek tenders to undertake the capital works to convert café eighteen71 into unit independent of the Council; to accept tenders received and to appoint, award and enter into contracts to undertake the capital works.

8.            That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised to seek best and final offers for the lease of café eighteen71 to a food and beverage tenant, and to accept offers received and to appoint, award and enter into contracts to enable the lease of café eighteen71 to a food and beverage tenant.

9.            That the Strategic Director – Place be authorised to select the procedure to be used (including the evaluation model and the any frameworks if appropriate), to seek tenders for the catering contract(s).

10.         That the Service Lead – Legal be authorised to prepare, negotiate and enter into the necessary agreements with service providers following a tender in compliance with the Contract Procedure Rules to enable implementation of the recommendations above.