How much do you think the North East Assembly paid Newcastle City Council over the past six years in rent for the prestigous Guildhall building (left) situated on Newcastle's Quayside?The estimated market rent is £25k per annum...equating to £150,000 over the six years.
Go on, have a guess ... and remember, the amount of rent received offsets the amount of Council tax Newcastle residents will have to pay.
Perhaps it will come as somewhat of a surprise that the North East Assembly, legal personality is an 'unincorprated association' has not paid a penny!
The Freedom of Information response from Newcastle City Council is somewhat revealing and shows a frivolous regard for the residents and ratepayers of Newcastle.
The responses to a number of questions are shown below:
Further to this, there was £280,000 spent on 'improvements' to the Guildhall to meet 'the current and short term requirements by the NEA.' £250,000 of this was to be met from the Corporate Resource Pool in order to 'retain this key regional function within the City.'
This has created an annual cost burden to the ratepayers of Newcastle City Council of £29,348 for the next twenty years.
The North East Assembly has now 'done a runner' and moved to premises in Gateshead!
I am sure that this failure to look after public money will now be the subject of a complaint by residents of Newcastle who may wish to bring it to the attention of the District Auditor.
I am sure that the Council tenants would not get such favourable terms from the City Council...
2 comments:
Neil,
If I read the story correctly, then this building is now empty. That's a shame for a nice, period property like this.
I live in London and am looking for a place in the North East, as a retreat. For a while I've been looking for a (say) six year rent-free rental of a period property somewhere just like Newcastle's Quayside.
I'd like to apply to the Council to take over the North East Assembly's rental agreement on the same terms.
In the interests of openness, there may be other people who'd like to take over this building on these terms also. Please could you therefore put a note on your blog of these contact details so that we can all apply? I'll let you know the response I get.
With best regards,
Anon.
Anyone wishing to make enquiries regarding the rental of such a prestigious building at such a fantastic rate can contact Newcastle City Council by clicking the link below:
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/busvaluations
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