1
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,880
Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wolf for Darwin International Airport. Your

2
00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,520
Speaker 1: connection to the world starts with Darwin International Airport.

3
00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,480
Speaker 2: You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty. Now,

4
00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,040
Speaker 2: there's certainly a lot happening around the Northern Territory. There

5
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,079
Speaker 2: always is, and we do our best to make sure

6
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,400
Speaker 2: we cover it all. Now, over the last couple of

7
00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,600
Speaker 2: weeks you may have heard me speak on the show

8
00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:27,920
Speaker 2: to the Lichfield Mayor, Doug Barden, about will changes to

9
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,920
Speaker 2: the library and the library out in the rural area

10
00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:35,440
Speaker 2: moving from to mid min College to cooler Linga shopping center.

11
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,360
Speaker 2: There's certainly been some opponents to it. There's been some

12
00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,160
Speaker 2: that really do want this to happen. Now to hear.

13
00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,720
Speaker 2: The other side of things is the Litchfield Deputy Mayor,

14
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:47,919
Speaker 2: Mark saidy, good morning to you.

15
00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,239
Speaker 1: Mark, Good morning, Katie, good morning listeners.

16
00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,680
Speaker 2: Thank you very much for coming in now. Mark, obviously

17
00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,720
Speaker 2: you are the deputy mayor now, I don't want you

18
00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,160
Speaker 2: to get in any trouble for speaking to me. I

19
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,480
Speaker 2: do think though, that it is really important that our

20
00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,640
Speaker 2: elected members are actually able to come on the show

21
00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,720
Speaker 2: and speak through issues that territorians care about.

22
00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,120
Speaker 1: Yeah, no, absolutely, Katie, and thank you for that. I

23
00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:14,400
Speaker 1: just got a premise this discussion by saying, in appearing

24
00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,720
Speaker 1: here today, the views that I am giving are my

25
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,200
Speaker 1: own personally, but they are in support of a council

26
00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,600
Speaker 1: motion that was passed properly, and they are consistent with

27
00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:26,560
Speaker 1: three of my other colleagues. So four of us and

28
00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:27,600
Speaker 1: totally all.

29
00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,440
Speaker 2: Right, so Mark. Last week we spoke to Doug Barton.

30
00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,280
Speaker 2: He raised concerns about the fact that you know that

31
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,920
Speaker 2: the library is moving. I've got to say, probably the

32
00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,720
Speaker 2: biggest concern that I've heard from listeners is not so

33
00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:44,679
Speaker 2: much the library moving, but people feeling like there hasn't

34
00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,920
Speaker 2: been enough consultation. What's your response to that.

35
00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,560
Speaker 1: I can acknowledge the sentiment of the people expressing those concerns.

36
00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,520
Speaker 1: But part of the reason I wanted to appear today

37
00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,400
Speaker 1: is to set some facts straight, because there has been

38
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,160
Speaker 1: a lot of disinformation out there about what has been

39
00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,080
Speaker 1: historically done and the reasons things moved relatively quickly in

40
00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:10,200
Speaker 1: the end. So Counsel has already conducted significant consultations in

41
00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,760
Speaker 1: twenty seventeen and twenty twenty one. The twenty seventeen study

42
00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,760
Speaker 1: was done by UTS cost fifty thousand dollars. The twenty

43
00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,760
Speaker 1: twenty one study was done by Atria Group cost forty

44
00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,760
Speaker 1: five thousand dollars. Now, as a result of these studies

45
00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,080
Speaker 1: and both were in agreement, it was a very clear

46
00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,200
Speaker 1: recommendation that the site at to midmin High was no

47
00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,600
Speaker 1: longer fit for purpose for a multitude of reasons, and

48
00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:39,560
Speaker 1: that relocation was what needed to occur. And it also

49
00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:44,000
Speaker 1: went further and said relocation to a retail hub such

50
00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:46,160
Speaker 1: as cool Linger was a very very good idea.

51
00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,919
Speaker 2: So those two reports, from what you're saying, they literally

52
00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,920
Speaker 2: seed that it should move to cooler Linger, to the

53
00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:54,839
Speaker 2: shopping center there.

54
00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,240
Speaker 1: Absolutely correct, Katie, Absolutely correct.

55
00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,400
Speaker 2: In terms of I mean, there has been some pushback

56
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,400
Speaker 2: from local residents say and Katie, I want the library

57
00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,639
Speaker 2: to move, but I don't feel as though cooler LINGA

58
00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,200
Speaker 2: Central is the right place. I don't feel like it's

59
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,600
Speaker 2: going to be the easiest place for seniors, for moms

60
00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,640
Speaker 2: with prams, that kind of thing to be able to

61
00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,960
Speaker 2: get into. They're wondering whether there should actually be a

62
00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,320
Speaker 2: fit for purpose council building built.

63
00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:29,120
Speaker 1: So this issue came up in January twenty twenty two

64
00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,560
Speaker 1: and council resolved to proceed with the relocation of Themandmum Library.

65
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,800
Speaker 1: I actually voted against that at that stage. My reasons

66
00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,000
Speaker 1: for doing so were twofold. One, I didn't think we

67
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,240
Speaker 1: could afford it. Now our finances have changed, we've kept

68
00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,760
Speaker 1: rates to three percent this year, we can certainly afford it.

69
00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,920
Speaker 1: The second reason was I was very much of the

70
00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,200
Speaker 1: opinion that it was viable in the short to medium

71
00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:58,080
Speaker 1: term to develop a standalone facility at three tourny Onham Highway.

72
00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:58,640
Speaker 2: Okay.

73
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,480
Speaker 1: Now, in the past four years that has been that

74
00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,760
Speaker 1: has gone absolutely nowhere, despite it being on our priority list.

75
00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:10,360
Speaker 1: We've had absolutely no buying or engagement from others in

76
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,000
Speaker 1: relation to that. And indeed, more recently the Humpty Do

77
00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:20,520
Speaker 1: Activity Center has been passed by the government. Now that

78
00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,640
Speaker 1: activity center, it puts a road right through any three

79
00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,000
Speaker 1: twenty Arham Highway block and there's other road There's a

80
00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,320
Speaker 1: huge amount of roadworks are associated with that. So that

81
00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,240
Speaker 1: is a probably a five to ten year program before

82
00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,200
Speaker 1: we can even get the block of land we need.

83
00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,760
Speaker 1: So anything we've done in the past, and certainly we

84
00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,560
Speaker 1: came up with some you know, some plans and some concepts,

85
00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,640
Speaker 1: they're all null and void that they're not relevant anymore.

86
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,880
Speaker 1: So three twenty arum Highway is not a viable option

87
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,400
Speaker 1: in the short or medium term. One, it's going to

88
00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,200
Speaker 1: cost ten or fifteen million dollars to do. Two the

89
00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,919
Speaker 1: site won't even be ready for at least five years.

90
00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,719
Speaker 1: So why should we disadvantage everyone for the next five

91
00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,920
Speaker 1: to ten years by pinning on all our hopes on

92
00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:03,560
Speaker 1: a pipe dream.

93
00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,800
Speaker 2: So mark from your perspective, why do you think it's

94
00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,080
Speaker 2: imperative that the library does move?

95
00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,200
Speaker 1: I think the big thing for me is the lack

96
00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,560
Speaker 1: of access. Many of our residents don't even know that

97
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,960
Speaker 1: we had a library at to Minmn. Elderly people, mothers

98
00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,919
Speaker 1: with children, they don't feel safe going to that environment

99
00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:27,920
Speaker 1: on some occasions.

100
00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,880
Speaker 2: And this is on the bloody terrible situation. Isn't it

101
00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:32,960
Speaker 2: like if they don't feel safe going into a school.

102
00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,480
Speaker 1: It is, it is, And this is on the public record.

103
00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,800
Speaker 1: Over the last couple of years, there's five pages of

104
00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,280
Speaker 1: interruptions in relation to to Winmin high Now, the majority

105
00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,520
Speaker 1: of those I won't talk to who cause those interruptions,

106
00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,960
Speaker 1: But there's been lockdowns, there's been foul language in front

107
00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,560
Speaker 1: of mothers groups, there's been people been abused, So we've

108
00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,040
Speaker 1: got to look at one the safety of the people

109
00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,560
Speaker 1: using the library, but also the safety of the students.

110
00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,680
Speaker 1: You know, it's just not conducive to a controlled environment.

111
00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,080
Speaker 1: And certainly, you know, to mim in High has come

112
00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,400
Speaker 1: out very strongly in favor of a relocation because they

113
00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,279
Speaker 1: want their space for their students. They don't want the

114
00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,200
Speaker 1: public wandering in and out of the school.

115
00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,680
Speaker 2: In terms of that relocation, like does everything that's in

116
00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,640
Speaker 2: that library now, all those books, et cetera, will that

117
00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:22,760
Speaker 2: go to the new site.

118
00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:28,159
Speaker 1: There's a detailed memorandum of understanding that details who owns

119
00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,880
Speaker 1: what specifically where the line in the sand is. I'm

120
00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,240
Speaker 1: not sure, but certainly things like the Lichfield collection will

121
00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,560
Speaker 1: be moving over and will finally be given a proper

122
00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:44,120
Speaker 1: home to display itself. If there is gaps in what

123
00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,880
Speaker 1: is going to be moved over either way, I'm sure

124
00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,159
Speaker 1: the NTG government, tomim and High will fill those gaps

125
00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:51,920
Speaker 1: and certainly council will as well.

126
00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,560
Speaker 2: Mark in terms of you know, the discussion that's been

127
00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:00,760
Speaker 2: had about the most recent consultation, so people going out

128
00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,280
Speaker 2: to the waste transfer station being asked questions out there,

129
00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:06,800
Speaker 2: I mean from the numbers that I was given, and

130
00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,720
Speaker 2: it seems as though most people are actually opposed to

131
00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,120
Speaker 2: the relocation of this library based on those most recent numbers.

132
00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:16,520
Speaker 2: I mean, what do you say to that.

133
00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,800
Speaker 1: Based on those most recent numbers, you are correct there

134
00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:26,160
Speaker 1: was a majority opposed. But I suppose one thing about

135
00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:31,520
Speaker 1: the surveys that were undertaken. First of all, Facebook surveys

136
00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,280
Speaker 1: were done by literaryal counsel and also by others. Well,

137
00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,600
Speaker 1: especially in relation to the ones done by others, there's

138
00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,600
Speaker 1: absolutely no supporting documentation or information, just a black and

139
00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:43,600
Speaker 1: white question.

140
00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:44,000
Speaker 2: So.

141
00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,560
Speaker 1: We need to be really careful about treating those as

142
00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:54,000
Speaker 1: representative as of our whole community. In relation to the

143
00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:59,960
Speaker 1: surveys done at the waste transfer stations, again not perfect,

144
00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,320
Speaker 1: but it's building on all the other consultation dating back

145
00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,680
Speaker 1: to twenty seventeen, it was raised, why wasn't there a

146
00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,720
Speaker 1: consultation at Humpty Do waste transfer station. Well, there's no

147
00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,680
Speaker 1: controlled gate there, so people just drive in and out.

148
00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,280
Speaker 1: They don't need to stop, so I wouldn't have been

149
00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,760
Speaker 1: practical or safe for a survey to be undertaken there.

150
00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,080
Speaker 2: Look, I guess for me, I'm just like, right now,

151
00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,760
Speaker 2: this morning. Obviously, the City of Darwin's just sent out

152
00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,360
Speaker 2: a statement saying that they're going to be looking at

153
00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,200
Speaker 2: a gym being built at the perhaps swimming pool, and

154
00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,800
Speaker 2: there is a whole online survey for people to do.

155
00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,760
Speaker 2: I've just jumped on it and had a quick look.

156
00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,320
Speaker 2: Why didn't the Litchfield Council do something like that?

157
00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,920
Speaker 1: In a perfect world we would have had all the

158
00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,080
Speaker 1: time in the world to undertake more extents.

159
00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,080
Speaker 2: But if there's been consultation since twenty seventeen, like, why

160
00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,240
Speaker 2: hasn't something like that ever been done? I guess, like

161
00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,640
Speaker 2: for me, that's a real standout question when I look

162
00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:59,440
Speaker 2: at the comparisons of how another council is doing something.

163
00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,800
Speaker 1: So the consultations done in twenty seventeen and twenty twenty

164
00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,920
Speaker 1: one were extensive. They included stakeholder groups, they included the public.

165
00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,040
Speaker 1: So I can't talk to exactly the modes of consultation,

166
00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,760
Speaker 1: but I am very much assured and it's in the

167
00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,079
Speaker 1: documentation and both these reports have been public record as well. Yep,

168
00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,200
Speaker 1: there's the consultation was very wide ranging.

169
00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,920
Speaker 2: And so how come not this time with this twenty

170
00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,040
Speaker 2: twenty five consultation, how come you know, not an online

171
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,000
Speaker 2: survey or something for people to actually do.

172
00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:36,120
Speaker 1: It Basically came down to timing. Council was presented with

173
00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:41,239
Speaker 1: an opportunity where an appropriate space had become available at COOLINGA,

174
00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:47,239
Speaker 1: and based on the historical consultations and the additional consultation

175
00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,199
Speaker 1: that was done, a decision was made to act on

176
00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,720
Speaker 1: that opportunity. Less maybe, look, god.

177
00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,880
Speaker 2: I totally get that. I totally get that. Obviously a

178
00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,880
Speaker 2: commercial space has become available, But isn't it more important

179
00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,199
Speaker 2: consult with people to make sure that you get it

180
00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,560
Speaker 2: right rather than rushing into a commercial lease? And over

181
00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,199
Speaker 2: what period of time is that lease going to be okay?

182
00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,800
Speaker 1: So again, the decision hasn't been rushed. It's based on fact,

183
00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:18,480
Speaker 1: it's based on considered reports from twenty seventeen and twenty

184
00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:24,160
Speaker 1: twenty one. In relation to the lease, I would suggest

185
00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,840
Speaker 1: it would be in the order of five to ten years.

186
00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,880
Speaker 2: I mean that's like that is a long commercial lease,

187
00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,560
Speaker 2: and I think that anybody that's dealt with the commercial

188
00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,120
Speaker 2: lease will know it's really difficult to get out of.

189
00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,480
Speaker 2: So basically then what that is doing is locking the

190
00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:44,360
Speaker 2: Lichfield Council into between five to ten year lease at

191
00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,160
Speaker 2: that shopping center and really cutting out the opportunity I

192
00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,640
Speaker 2: would suspect to be able to build your own standalone

193
00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,040
Speaker 2: library if that opportunity presents.

194
00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,280
Speaker 1: Okay, So there will be no opportunity to build our

195
00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,800
Speaker 1: own library in least ten years. The whole issue is

196
00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,120
Speaker 1: gone nowhere for the last four We won't even have

197
00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,000
Speaker 1: MTG doing their works in the next five to ten

198
00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:11,400
Speaker 1: years potentially, so building a our own building is not viable.

199
00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,720
Speaker 1: It would also cost ten to fifteen million dollars. Now

200
00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,480
Speaker 1: we've had absolutely no appetite for someone to help us

201
00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,360
Speaker 1: fund that we've tried over the last four years. So

202
00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,400
Speaker 1: building our own building is not viable. And also once

203
00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,600
Speaker 1: you build your own building, everyone that would own a

204
00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,800
Speaker 1: house or a commercial properly would know the maintenance stack

205
00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,600
Speaker 1: adds up. So if you actually look at the figures

206
00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,080
Speaker 1: the rental that we will be paying, and obviously that's

207
00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:42,160
Speaker 1: commercial and confidences, it compares favorably to the cost of

208
00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,200
Speaker 1: building our own building and maintaining our own building. Not

209
00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,640
Speaker 1: to mention that you know that, say we did spend

210
00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,200
Speaker 1: ten or fifteen million dollars, that would all have to

211
00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,880
Speaker 1: come out of somewhere, so we wouldn't be getting interest

212
00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,120
Speaker 1: on the money in the bank. For that, it just

213
00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:57,520
Speaker 1: makes sense to lease a building in the short to

214
00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:58,160
Speaker 1: medium term.

215
00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,240
Speaker 2: Mark, what is your message for anybody that is a

216
00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,160
Speaker 2: Lichfield resident that's listening this morning, that's feeling frustrated, that's

217
00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,640
Speaker 2: thinking you're not listening to what I'm saying, or there

218
00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:09,320
Speaker 2: might be some that are gone. Do you know what,

219
00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,160
Speaker 2: this is actually a really good idea, But what is

220
00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,640
Speaker 2: your message to those Lichfield residents this morning?

221
00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,880
Speaker 1: What I can assure Lichfield residents and rate payers is

222
00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,679
Speaker 1: that this decision was not rushed. It reflects long term planning,

223
00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,720
Speaker 1: sound advice, and a real opportunity to deliver a better

224
00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,359
Speaker 1: outcome for the community. And we are confident that relocating

225
00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,760
Speaker 1: the library. A relocated library will be well used and

226
00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:35,359
Speaker 1: a much loved hub for learning, in connection and inclusion.

227
00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:38,319
Speaker 2: Mike, I just does just before I let you go.

228
00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,199
Speaker 2: And my understanding is that across the board, right across

229
00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,760
Speaker 2: the Northern Territory, there will be elections for counselors in

230
00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,040
Speaker 2: August this year. Would it be a better thing to

231
00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:55,120
Speaker 2: just hold off until then? And you know, like wait

232
00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,440
Speaker 2: until then. I know it's a few months away, it

233
00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,720
Speaker 2: is a little while away. But not lock the council

234
00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,800
Speaker 2: into a five to ten year lease until you have

235
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,640
Speaker 2: done that, you know, further consultation, or until you're sort

236
00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:09,800
Speaker 2: of you know, I really make sure that it's what

237
00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:10,840
Speaker 2: the community wants.

238
00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,040
Speaker 1: We're elected to do a job for the community and

239
00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,800
Speaker 1: that was to make decisions, to make hard decisions in

240
00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:23,320
Speaker 1: some instances. And what I see that we've done in

241
00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,800
Speaker 1: this case is we've made a decision for the community

242
00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:32,120
Speaker 1: on carefully based carefully on facts. If it was to

243
00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:37,960
Speaker 1: go to additional consultation or after the next election, for instance,

244
00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,719
Speaker 1: the opportunity to move it to the space that has

245
00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,400
Speaker 1: been identified wouldn't be there. So we had a certain

246
00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,160
Speaker 1: amount of time to act, and we have acted and

247
00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,160
Speaker 1: it will benefit so so many in our community.

248
00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:54,760
Speaker 2: So has the lease already been signed.

249
00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,480
Speaker 1: I'm not privy exactly to that information, but it's certainly

250
00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:00,880
Speaker 1: in train.

251
00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,880
Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, Mark Side the Lichfield Deputy mayor. I really

252
00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,080
Speaker 2: appreciate you coming in this morning. I think it's really

253
00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,280
Speaker 2: important to have discussions and make sure that you hear

254
00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,440
Speaker 2: both sides of the story. So I really appreciate your

255
00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,720
Speaker 2: time this morning. Thank you very much for joining me

256
00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,360
Speaker 2: in the studio. And no doubt we'll talk again soon.

257
00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:18,920
Speaker 1: Thank you for having me, Katie, thank you