The Civic Suite in Rayleigh officially reopened its doors for evening Rochford District Council committee meetings this week. After being closed for over four years, the Civic Suite will once again serve as the main venue for council meetings.
The Civic Suite has been out of operation since 2020, with the council relocating its reception to the Mill Hall Arts and Events Centre. However, the venue briefly reopened in late 2023 to accommodate approximately 100 pupils and teachers from Wyburns Primary School, who needed an alternative location while addressing safety concerns related to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their school building.
Following a committee meeting in March 2024, the Council agreed to allocate £30,000 from the 2024/25 Capital Programme to carry out essential work on the building. These funds were used to ensure that the Council Chamber and foyer are fully operational and accessible to the public during evening meetings. All other areas of the Civic Suite will remain closed and the council’s reception in Rayleigh will remain at the Mill Arts & Events Centre.
The Council Chamber reopening marks the return of council committee meetings to the Civic Suite from the Mill Hall Arts and Events Centre. This gives a dedicated space for council decisions and allowing the Mill Hall Arts and Events Centre to have more evening spaces available for bookings and community events hire.
Councillor James Newport, Leader of Rochford District Council said:
“After the essential upgrades, the chamber will once again serve as the heart of our council’s decision-making. This move not only allows us to hold meetings in a more appropriate setting but also frees up much-needed space at the Mill Arts & Events Centre for evening bookings, benefiting our communities in multiple ways. We look forward to welcoming both the public and council members to the chamber at the Civic Suite - it’s good to be back.”
All Council and Committee agendas and reports, along with a calendar of upcoming meetings are available on the Council's Committee Management Information System (CMIS) page: www.rochford.gov.uk/cmis. You can also watch our Council and Committee meetings, unless exempt, either live or on catch-up via our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@rochfordcouncil