Issue - meetings

Committee is asked to:

1.    Agree to the closure of the Spelthorne Business Hub at the Summit Centre, Sunbury by 31 March 2026,

2.    Relocate the Business Hub to the Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames; and

3.    Approve the continuation of the Council’s Business Support Service, delivered independently of the Hub premises.

The Committee resolved to

1.    Agree the closure of the Spelthorne Business Hub at the Summit Centre, Sunbury by 31 March 2026;

2.    Relocate the Business Hub to the Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames;

3.    Approve the continuation of the Council’s Business Support Service, delivered independently of the Hub premises.

The Committee considered a report from the Economic Development Manager regarding relocating the Spelthorne Business Hub. Members were advised the Business Hub must either close or be relocated by the end of March 2026. A number of sites had been explored as options for relocation, with space at the Council offices being the least prohibitively expensive and the Council to still be in a position to still provide the service. The Economic Development Manager confirmed that he had spoken to some of the current tenants of the Business Hub who had expressed concern over the costs of moving to one of sites considered.

The Committee explored the suitability of the sites considered against the cost to house the Hub at the various sites. The Committee expressed concern that the current users of the Hub had not been canvassed about their preferred site for relocation. The Committee expressed a desire for the Council to continue to provide the service, and acknowledged that relocation of the Business Hub to the Council Offices would allow the service to continue at low cost to the Council.

The Committee resolved to

1.    Agree the closure of the Spelthorne Business Hub at the Summit Centre, Sunbury by 31 March 2026;

2.    Relocate the Business Hub to the Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames;

3.    Approve the continuation of the Council’s Business Support Service, delivered independently of the Hub premises.