Stag Community Arts Centre: Update on the Current Position

I am writing to update you on the current position with the Stag. You may have seen Sevenoaks District Council have provided Sevenoaks Town Council with three options.  

Option 1: Freehold at a charge of £650,000. The Town Council have argued that the Stag Freehold could be transferred at a nominal value; however the District Council consistently state that this is not possible. Following a meeting last night, it was thought that further negotiations might take place. This could mean the Town Council potentially making some payment and the need for some fund raising.

Having the Freehold would provide permanent security and ability for future investment into the facility.

Option 2: a 30-year Peppercorn Lease. This seems a good offer, however there are concerns that with no secure of Tenancy, this situation will arise again in the future, potentially after investing even more funds into the building.

If neither of these options can be agreed by next Tuesday, Option 3 is proposed, which is the existing Lease with 9 years remaining will be transferred to the new Unitary Authority expected to be formed in 2028.

It should be noted that the Freehold / Lease negotiations are between the District Council and the Town Council, not the Stag, although obviously we remain involved. All involved believe the Town Council and the Stag Charity are the most appropriate organisations to continue to manage the Stag.

With such a short timescale to make such an important decision, we would be grateful to receive your feedback on this, which you can provide by emailing me as Chair of Stag Trustees at Chairman@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

Nigel Wightman, Chair, Stag Trustees