URL: https://democracy.thanet.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5463

Decision Maker: Chief Executive (CEx)

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Chief Executive agreed the following:   That the decision meets the criteria of Special Urgency as per paragraph 19 of the Council’s Procedure Rules; That due to the urgency of this decision it will be exempted from Call-In as per paragraph 15 (section p onwards) of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules; That a lease be entered into for a workshop site including workshop building facilities at Spitfire Way, Manston, Ramsgate; and To approve the key decision to enter into a lease with a value over the first five years in excess of the £250k key decision threshold. The council operates a vehicle workshop facility at its depot on Manston Road in Margate. The workshop supports the council's vehicle fleet including Heavy Goods Vehicles. The current vehicle workshop is nearing the end of its operational life and options for a replacement workshop have been evaluated. A nearby workshop at Spitfire Way, Manston on the B2190 is available for commercial let. Draft Heads of Terms have been agreed for the leasing of this site.   The Spitfire Way workshop will replace the current workshop at Manston Road (but not the Manston Road depot itself). There is a risk of losing this opportunity to other unknown parties if a contractual commitment is not made urgently based on draft heads of terms that have been agreed in principle with the agent for the landlord. Essential capital works will be carried out to the property following occupation to make it ready for service. There is provision for these works in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 capital programme. Alternative options have been considered including refurbishing the existing vehicle workshop, building a new workshop at Manston Road and outsourcing the vehicle maintenance service to a private workshop provider but all of these options have been discounted as a result of having a higher cost, a higher risk or an unacceptably long programme.

Date of Decision: November 24, 2025