To approve a request to go out to develop the scheme and tender for the works to repair the Town Hall front facade and the front porch.

The works identified are required to keep the building operating effectively and protect the longer term future of the building both in terms of fabric/structure and also the future options to move the property out of Herefordshire Council portfolio or reuse.

There might be a loss of revenue to the registrars due to people deciding to have wedding ceremonies elsewhere because of the current back drop of scaffolding.

That:

(a)          remedial works to the porch area of the Town Hall Hereford be undertaken at a cost of not more than £260k;  and

(b)          the chief finance officer be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendations including award of a contract to undertake the works within the approved budget..

1.            To do nothing: This has been discounted as the existing porch entrance is unsafe without the continued support of the scaffolding installed to protect the public, who use the building, Herefordshire Council continues to receive complaints from members of the public about the poor state of repair and the effect it is having on the building users services, such as Hereford City Council and the coroner.