FACTS ON THE CIVIC HALL REPLACEMENT

Resume of the Civic Hall replacement

Considered modern in the early 1960's the Civic served Guildford well attracting most contemporary bands to the town through the sixties and seventies. Local artist such as Eric Clapton, Status Quo, The Stranglers and Paul Weller always used the venue right up until it's closure. But by the mid 80's the Civic had fallen off the youth music circuit and by the 90's it had become no more than a tribute band venue along with some dance nights and various meetings. Mismanagement had set in big time.
By 1996 the hung council had been made aware that the building needed modernisation or a new build altogether and various considerations were then made.
It was decided in 1999, while the council was still under no overall control, to short list architects to provide guidance in determining refurbishment of the Civic Hall.
In 2000 advice was given by Parker Browne, that the cost of refurbishment would be far in excess of that initially envisaged. The Council then widened the options, but prescribed a minimum requirement. Further options were to be investigated including both refurbishment and rebuilding.
In July 2000 those interested could request more information.
In November 2000 a shortlist of those interested in putting forward proposals was drawn up by an all party working group.
In November 2001 there was public consultation with displays at the Civic Hall of the proposals, both refurb and new build.
Following the consultation on the evidence laid out before them by the council officers that a new build would be the better option; the Council considered that the additional extra cost of a new build would provide a far better facility and value for money than a refurbishment of the existing building.
A number of schemes were put forward; two were from Miller Developments one of which had a superstore. It was decided to take the scheme with the superstore, as it was the best design but to omit the superstore itself.
Council officers were then authorised to negotiate with Millers with a deadline of April 2002 and a completion date for the new Civic by February 2006.
In March 2002 the Council was threatened with legal action on a number of grounds by GU1 Communications, one of Michel Harper’s companies, the main objection being that ‘none of the tenders met the Council's brief, including the most favoured Miller Option One’. Also that the procedure was contrary to the Public Works Contracts Regulations. As a direct result the process was aborted and a new tendering process planned.
In May 2003 The Conservative's won control of the council, with running costs now in the region of £ 400,000 per year and the entertainment program looking as dismal as ever they decided on July 5th to close the building in January 2004. This would avoid further emergency repair costs of a minimum of £81,500 for health and safety works to be carried out which were needed if the venue was to remain open. Building work was expected to start by the summer of 2004; the cost of staff redundancies was inevitable as was the relocation of activities whilst the new hall was being built.
This was not seen as a loss to the community but more a saving as the new Civic would be open at the end of 2006.

The new tendering process commenced in July 2003 and by October 2003 five companies were short-listed. In April 2004 Taylor Woodrow were selected, as agreed by all parties, as the new contractor. The planned timetable led to a completion date of December 2006. However the net costs had now risen from 2 million to 5 million.
Within days of the announcement Mr Harper, through another of his companies, Trinity Investments then proceeded to seek a judicial review. The Court rejected outright to give leave for a judicial review, and the Council received substantial costs. Nevertheless this action resulted in Taylor Woodrow withdrawing from the project at the last minute.
Mr Harpers actions therefore left the town without a Civic Hall and no prospect of a new one plus a bill of around £825,000 caused by his 23 various appeals and protests.
Since then the Council has been actively seeking a resolution and best way forward from that position to create a replacement for the Civic Hall.
The council is fully aware that the town is without a Civic, though as things stand it has now saved the council taxpayer, well over £ 800,000 plus the £ 81,500 not spent on the emergency repairs.
Most of the events held at the Civic have found new homes so there is no real entertainment loss to the town. A full relocation list is available from GBC.
The Conservative controlled council want to resolve the situation and are looking at three options
1. Getting a new build at London Road and have it run by improved management.
2. Refurbish the existing hall and get it run by improved management.
3. Build a new Entertainment complex on grounds at the University and use the current Civic land for other purposes.

Dylan White
May 2006
From information given by Conservative and Liberal Democrat members of GBC