Decision details

To approve recommendations for purchase and sale of assets and terms of leases

(over £1m – Cabinet decision, under £1m – Cabinet Member decision,

in consultation with the Leader)

Part 2

Mr Forster, the local Member was invited to speak and said that this purchase had support of both him and the local community.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the purchase of the freehold interest of Woking Magistrates Court for a total consideration as set out in the submitted report, be approved

2.         That a contract be awarded for the fit out of the acquired property at a total cost as set out in the submitted report, subject to an appropriate procurement exercise.

Reasons for Decisions

As a consequence of the changes to the statutory responsibilities of the Coroner arising from the implementation of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, the current Woking Coroner’s Court no longer provides suitable or appropriate accommodation.  Woking Magistrates Court has been identified as a multi-purpose site suitable for providing office accommodation for the Coroner, the Assistant Coroners, the Coroner’s PA and the Coronial Staff (15-20 staff provided by Surrey Police and 2 staff provided by SCC), court accommodation for simultaneous Jury and non-Jury Inquests and archive storage for non-public Coronial records.