Abingdon Town Council update on lease with Abbey Cinema
Abingdon Town Council has been negotiating with the Abbey Cinema regarding a new lease on the Abbey Hall for almost three years.
The current lease terminates on 30 November 2022 and the council has been pressing for some time to conclude negotiations.
Following a reminder earlier this month that the lease was coming to an end, the Abbey Cinema submitted a proposal for a new lease on 10 August 2022. In some key areas this proposal is substantially different from the current lease. The Council meeting on Thursday 25 August 2022 was called to respond to the Abbey Cinema’s proposals.
The Mayor, Cllr Andy Foulsham, stated that “we were surprised and disappointed that the cinema decided to start negotiating in public. We were very pleased to hear from local residents about how they value and use the cinema and we were able to reassure everyone that the Council recognises the importance of the cinema and has worked over many years to ensure that it continues to be a successful part of the town.
“At the meeting the Council, with its advisors, took three hours to go through the Abbey Cinema’s lease proposals clause by clause. We concluded that there was a lot of common ground between their proposals and our original ones and so have instructed our representative to go back to them to resolve the remaining issues, which will hopefully lead to a lease being agreed that will secure the long-term future of the cinema in Abingdon.”
Abbey Cinema
Abingdon Town Council has been negotiating with the Abbey Cinema regarding a new lease for the cinema for some time.
Recently the Cinema submitted a proposal for a new lease which is substantially different than that which we have been negotiating on.
The Council meeting on Thursday 25 August has been called so we can give matters our speedy consideration. In considering matters the interests of our residents will come first.
The meeting is being held in confidence, which is standard procedure in such matters and is in part to protect the confidence of the Abbey Hall.
Solidarity with Ukraine
The flag of Ukraine is again flying from the County Hall Museum to demonstrate the solidarity of the residents of Abingdon with Ukraine as the country marks its national day on 24 August while still enduring great hardship. Ukrainians who have come to Abingdon during this difficult time will be marking the day together in the town.
Job vacancy for Town Clerk
Abingdon Town Council is seeking to appoint a new Town Clerk whose role will be to help Councillors to address current challenges and embrace the many future changes. The Town Clerk is the Council’s chief officer and principal adviser, assisting in the formation of policies and responsible for the effective management of all its business, resources, staff and operations.
You can find out more about this opportunity here.
Closing date for applications – Friday 14 August 2022.
