Decision details

Proposed decision to:

a)     AGREE that the political priorities in any preferred option for the future of Sessions House include:

                                          i.    The retention of the County Council’s strategic headquarters in Maidstone

                                        ii.    The modernisation and expansion of Invicta House as the main staff accommodation hub for Maidstone with office hubs located in other districts sized accordingly.

                                       iii.    The provision of civic accommodation in Sessions House Block C and D (Central Core)

b)    AGREE to allocate £2,082,000 from the capital feasibility MTFP allocation  to enable the further testing and the development of  a detailed financial and legal assessment and feasibility work to RIBA stage 3 for the preferred option before final detailed proposals are provided to Cabinet for a final decision to be taken.

AGREE that the Director of Infrastructure shall work with key stakeholders to test the feasibility of future alternative uses for Sessions House with detailed proposals (financially and legally assessed) to be included as part of the proposals at b above.

Background:

The Executive believe that Sessions House requires significant investment to address the building condition issues, deliver accommodation which is fit for purpose and meets our environmental commitments.  

An options appraisal was undertaken based on the pre-pandemic working styles during early 2020. It was agreed that this would be revisited, taking into account the changes in the way that we need to work post pandemic and a new accommodation model has been developed which allows a number of new options to be considered.  

The Executive have considered the options, the key policy drivers and subject to the more detailed financial and technical due diligence, have selected a Preferred Option, which will see investment in Invicta House as the key staff hub in Maidstone, with Members’ accommodation being provided from the civic core in Block C and D in Sessions House. The remaining key offices across the estate will be sized accordingly. Blocks A and B (the wings) of Sessions House will be considered as part of the wider master planning along with Maidstone East.

As Cabinet Member forDeputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services, I:

a)    AGREE that the political priorities in any preferred option for the future of Sessions House include:

                                          i.    The retention of the County Council’s strategic headquarters in Maidstone

                                        ii.    The modernisation and expansion of Invicta House as the main staff accommodation hub for Maidstone with office hubs located in other districts sized accordingly.

                                       iii.    The provision of civic accommodation in Sessions House Block C and D (Central Core)

b)    AGREE to allocate £2,082,000 from the capital feasibility MTFP allocation  to enable the further testing and the development of  a detailed financial and legal assessment and feasibility work to RIBA stage 3 for the preferred option before final detailed proposals are provided to Cabinet for a final decision to be taken.

c)    AGREE that the Director of Infrastructure shall work with key stakeholders to test the feasibility of future alternative uses for blocks A, B and E of Sessions House with detailed proposals (financially and legally assessed) to be included as part of the proposals at b) above.