£30k more for Westway Centre

Within the approved Vale budget is £30k for strategic property advice for the Westway Centre:

The Vale Council, as part of a consortium of land owners, presently proposes to sell off part of its freehold interest in this site for a food store development, which if successful will generate a substantial capital receipt. Part of that receipt is earmarked for a refurbishment of the remaining centre in order to upgrade the appearance of the centre and it appeal to shoppers and retailers. The work will require the services of a number of professionals and this bid is to fund those costs for 2012/13.

So far, the only provision we have for replacement facilities for Seacourt Hall and the Botley Library are verbal assurances from the Vale.

I seconded an amendment to this years’ budget that could have been used to provide more certainty, but it was defeated.