Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources and Workforce Planning seeking approval for the renewal of the lease held by the City Council of accommodation at Meridians House, Ocean Village which is used as a base for the Environmental Health and Trading Standards (Food and Port Health) Section.

(i)  To approve the renewal of the lease at Meridians House on the terms set out in the confidential appendix to this report; and

(ii)  That the Head of Property and Procurement be given authority to finalise lease terms, any minor revisions and to take all appropriate steps in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council to complete the lease.

It is proposed that the Port Health Team be relocated to accommodation at the new City Depot when available. Re-location of the team from their current office for the intervening short period would be expensive for the Council and cause disruption to the Port Health Service. The terms of the lease renewal as detailed below do not increase costs to the council and provide the flexibility to move to the new City Depot without financial penalty. Therefore the renewal of the lease with appropriate break clauses is considered to be the best option for the Council.

Not to renew the lease and temporarily relocate the Port Health Team was considered. However at an early stage the Accommodation Strategy Project Board confirmed that there was no suitable temporary alternative office accommodation available elsewhere within the Council. Also as stated above the service is to be relocated to the new City Depot and the temporary relocation of the service for the intervening period would be expensive for the Council and cause unnecessary disruption to the Port Health Service.  For these reasons the temporary relocation of the service was rejected.