Issue - meetings

                 Report of the Chief Executive.

Reason for taking the item in private:

Paragraph 4 - Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Heritage, Arts & Tourism, Housing and Communities presented the report which sought a decision about the future of City Hall, Salisbury during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Cllr Clewer highlighted 3 options for Cabinet to consider, as detailed below and proposed that option 2 be supported:

·       Option 1: Maintain current staffing and mobilise when the government allows performance events to take place again.

·       Option 2: Temporarily close the venue and reopen once the government deems it safe to operate such a venue again and it is financially viable to do so.

·       Option 3: Close the City Hall and potentially dispose of the asset.

Resolved:

To approveOption 2 - Temporarily close the venue and reopen once the government deems it safe to operate such a venue again and it is financially viable to do so.

Reason for Decision: To establish a way forward for City Hall in Salisbury during the COVID19 pandemic.

City Hall in Salisbury was closed in March 2020 following government guidance due to the spread of COVID19. Government announcements, following a national rise in COVID19 in September 2020, have paused plans to move to partial reopening with social distancing for events venues from November. With increasing cases of COVID19 nationally it is now unlikely that City Hall will be able to reopen as an indoor events venue until Spring / Summer 2021 at the earliest.