The Officer Key Decision meeting scheduled for Wednesday 19 August 2026 was set to consider a report regarding a commercial property in Stratford. The report detailed proposals for granting a new commercial lease for this property.

34 The Broadway, Stratford E15 4QD

The meeting's agenda included a discussion concerning the property at 34 The Broadway, Stratford E15 4QD. The report pack indicated that the purpose of this discussion was to seek approval for granting a new commercial lease for this council-owned asset. The proposal aimed to bring the currently vacant property back into active occupation, thereby reducing void-related holding costs and ensuring its continued commercial use within Stratford Town Centre.

The report highlighted that the property was generating no rental income while the council incurred costs such as empty business rates and insurance premiums. The proposed letting was intended to support town centre activation, improve the performance of the council's commercial portfolio, and generate a sustainable income stream, while adhering to the council's statutory duty to obtain the best consideration reasonably obtainable.

The report recommended that Oliver Judges, Director of Property, approve the grant of a new commercial lease on terms detailed in an exempt appendix. The lease was proposed to be granted on full repairing and insuring terms, contracted outside the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The tenant would be responsible for business rates, utilities, service charge contributions, and other occupational costs. The proposed use for the property was retail, falling within Use Class E, which was considered consistent with the planning and commercial character of Stratford Town Centre and The Broadway retail parade. This occupation was expected to support continued footfall, activation, and economic activity in the area.

The report also outlined alternative options considered and rejected, including not proceeding with the letting, which would result in continued vacancy and associated costs, and the disposal of the asset. Disposal had been considered as part of a wider strategic review, but the council's strategic property consultants, JLL, had recommended retention of the property.

The report noted that the council has a general power of competence under Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 and that Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 allows principal councils to dispose of land for the best consideration reasonably obtainable. The report stated that the rent had been negotiated to ensure compliance with this duty. The council had also considered its duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and did not anticipate any significant adverse equalities impacts arising from the proposed letting.

The meeting was an Officer Key Decision, meaning the decision had been delegated to the relevant officer, Oliver Judges, Director of Property. The details of the decision were available to view in attached documents, though the report pack itself did not confirm whether a decision was made or what that decision was.