There will be an opportunity for Leek Town Residents to express their views on the continuing ownership of Bank House at start of the next Council meeting on Tuesday 17 January.
This will not be a debate. Its’s an invitation to inform the Council of YOUR views about the future use of Bank House. Should it be considered as an asset or a liability?
When the current cohort of councillors was elected in 2019, Bank House wasn’t an issue. The building was occupied by Support Staffordshire under a lease arrangement that included responsibility for repairs and maintenance. It was viable because Support Staffordshire sublet rooms to other community based organisations.
This business model was already under some pressure however, and Support Staffordshire gave notice during 2020 that they intended to terminate the lease and hand back the keys to Leek Town Council.
In February 2021 the building was put onto the market in the hope of finding another principle lessee that would be prepared to take on the building under a similar arrangement. So far this has failed to materialise. There have been a number of enquiries and viewings and some time has been spent on one or two negotiations – hence the topic has been raised from time to time under confidential sessions of the General Purposes Committee.
So far the maintenance costs for the building have been financed by the money deposited by Support Staffordshire under the terms of their lease. But clearly this has limits. Continuing ownership of Bank House is not sustainable without a viable business plan.
As time has passed we are now looking forward to the handover to a new intake of Councillors after elections in May.
The purpose of this public consultation is to establish some clear guidelines for the future on Bank House. Clearly there are implications and potential costs and risks associated with owning a Grade 2 listed building.
How does this weigh against the financial pressures and priorities for the town going forward?
Cllr Mike Ottewell
M: 07989 602480