Lymington and Pennington Town Council approve reduced rent offer for potential new tenant of sea water bath offices

A REDUCED rent will be offered to a potential new business tenant moving into Lymington’s sea water baths offices.

At the latest town council meeting, clerk Louise Young said the authority had recently invested cash to “bring the offices back up to scratch”.

The council has now been approached by an as yet unnamed, not-for-profit business tenant offering a “mix of water sports uses for the local community”.

A report said the authority is asking for £18,000 per year to lease the building, with a proposed 50% rent reduction for the first four months from 1st September.

It stated enquiries with commercial letting agents suggested a figure of £19,000 to £21,000 per year for the offices.

“(The tenant) would look to use the river, sea water baths, lagoon and the Solent for water activities,” continued the report.

“The business would likely be a not-for-profit organisation with the objective of driving wider participation and well-being activities for all age groups.

“The plan is to create a new company for the purpose of delivering the services and activities proposed.

“It is at the early stages of setup, with a view to being fully operational by January 2025. The offer is for £18,000 per year, understanding that it is initially a short-term licence agreement.”

The report noted that while the building is unoccupied the council is responsible for covering its business rates and utility bills.

Lymington Town ward Cllr Jacqui England said she was “quite concerned” that councillors did not have enough information to make a decision.

“We need more in the way of investigation and transparency on this,” she said.

She suggested members visit the site, with any decision on leasing out the building postponed to the next full council meeting or a special meeting.

Pennington ward Cllr Martina Humber said she was “concerned” to learn there are still issues with the offices’ heating and insulation, adding: “It would be easy to put in solar panels or some kind of acceptable heating.”

The clerk said those issues could be addressed through future Heritage Lottery Funding bids, adding that the council does not have the cash needed to make the changes itself.

Cllr Humber replied: “I think this sounds like a very good idea but, like Cllr England, I just don’t think we know enough about it.”

She added she would “feel happier” if the new potential tenant were a registered charity rather than a not-for-profit company.

Lymington ward member Cllr Alan Penson said: “I think this is an excellent opportunity. It’s more than the previous tenant was paying, so I think it’s a win-win.”

Fellow Lymington ward member Cllr Thomas Brindley added: “I’m not worried if they’re a charity or a non-profit - get them in there. We don’t want to lose them.”

The clerk added that if the council go back to a letting agent to try to find another tenant they run the risk of losing this one.

Cllr England added: “I think as a council we should have more information over this.”

She said the council’s relationship with the previous tenant was “very good when they started but later went awry”.

She said this had led to a “very difficult situation” in the end, adding: “I would rather see that we have everything in place and that way we won’t have to go over old ground.”

Councillors voted in favour of a recommendation for the council to enter into a short-term licence agreement with the yet to be named company for an initial period of 18 months at a fee of £18,000 per year, with the first four months discounted at 50%.

They also agreed for the town mayor, clerk and the chair of the policy and resources committee to have delegated authority to finalise terms and sign a licence agreement.