Harlington Frequently Asked Questions

• The building is ageing, and several systems are failing. There are leaks (roof, etc.), poor insulation, outdated mechanical & electrical systems, and growing maintenance costs.
• Unless repaired/refurbished, The Harlington risks serious decline in usability, safety or possibly closing, which would mean losing an important cultural, entertainment and community facility in Fleet.
• Also, there is a climate / sustainability drive: improving insulation, updating heating / cooling systems, replacing inefficient systems, reducing carbon footprint are key priorities. The Harlington is part of Fleet Town Council’s environmental commitments.

• Condition surveys show many internal & external elements are “beyond their sell-by date”.
• The building does not meet current building standards / regulations in many respects — mechanical/electrical systems, insulation, energy efficiency.
• Leaks (roof), poor heating and ventilation, lack of insulation, probably poor acoustic / performance facilities, outdated lighting/sound, substandard toilets etc have all been flagged.

• Fleet Town Council is arranging a renovation of the existing building (rather than building a wholly new one). We have secured a long lease (99 years) with Hart District Council, which gives the Town Council more control and certainty.
• The precept was raised in previous years, and funding has been put aside specifically for this project. The remaining funding needed will be applied for via a Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) It has always been the plan to use a combination of existing earmarked funds and PWLB borrowing.

• Fleet Town Council will also receive £1milllion in contributions from the Hartland Village Property Developers.

• Better and more reliable facilities: modern heating / ventilation, better electrical/mechanical systems, improved insulation, etc — making the venue more comfortable, energy-efficient and safer.
• Lower running costs over time (once inefficiencies are fixed) — fewer energy losses, less maintenance, fewer emergency repairs.
• Potentially more/better events, more flexibility in use of spaces, improved audience experience (sound, lighting, seating, amenities).
• Environmental benefits: reduced carbon emissions, aligning with the council’s climate goals.
• Securing The Harlington’s future: ensuring this community resource remains viable for many years under the 99-year lease.

• The Harlington is managed by Fleet Town Council under a commercial full repairing lease, which means FTC is responsible for all maintenance and running of the building. In March 2025, Fleet Town Council agreed a 99-year lease with Hart District Council, giving the Town Council long-term control and responsibility for The Harlington.
• Hart District Council are landlords but the day-to-day operations, programming, venue management etc are the Town Council’s responsibilities.
• Fleet Town Council cannot direct or influence how other parishes spend their funds. Each parish is responsible for managing its own community halls or facilities, so their budgets are not available to support The Harlington.

• The Council’s website contains information on this project going back years to current date.
• Stakeholder engagement meetings were held in April -May 2025 to get input into requested changes.
• There have been regular social media communications via Facebook and Instagram welcoming resident views and input alongside in person Councillor Coffee Mornings and Annual Residents Meeting.
• The council intends to hold further public consultations at appropriate stages of the project.

• There’s no commitment so far that renovation will automatically lead to reduced ticket prices for residents.
• What the renovation willdo is reduce operating costs (energy, maintenance).
• The updated Business Plan being prepared will consider these aspects (how to balance revenue and community access) to ensure The Harlington remains accessible.

• This is partly a philosophical question, but the business plan being updated aims to find a balance.
• While it is a cultural/social/community facility, it must also be financially sustainable: it will still need to generate some income (from ticket sales, venue hire etc) to cover operating costs.
• The model is not one of profit-making private enterprise but of a public service with revenue generation to cover costs: facilities need to be sufficiently used, events scheduled, hire taken etc.
• Even with revenue, there may still be a subsidy or support needed for certain community-oriented events or free/low cost access.

• In 2015 Fleet Town Council ordered a feasibility study and began exploring options to ‘Repair, Refurbish or Replace’ The Harlington, 53% voted to replace the building, leading to an increase in the Precept.
• The referendum held in 2018 asked residents whether they supported building a completely new Harlington on Gurkha Square. The result was 60% “No.”
• Fleet Town Council has not ignored this outcome – the decision was made not to proceed with the new build option.
• Instead, FTC focused on maintaining and now refurbishing the existing Harlington, in line with the outcome of the referendum and the need to protect the community’s facility for the long term.

• When the precept was increased, the intention was to put funds aside for future improvements to The Harlington. This money has been ringfenced for the project.
• The ‘Repair, Refurbish or Replace’ consultation took place in 2015, at a time when Fleet Town Council occupied the building without a lease. After the referendum in 2018 ruled out “replace” FTC entered negotiations with Hart to secure a long-time lease on The Harlington’s existing building which would make FTC investment on renovations worthwhile.
• Long-term certainty over the building’s future was only secured in March 2025, when FTC signed the 99-year commercial repairing lease with Hart District Council. This gave the Town Council the security needed to invest in major renovation.
• The Feasibility Study is now being used to ensure those funds, together with grants and a PWLB loan, are spent wisely to achieve the best outcome for residents and the future sustainability of the Harlington.

• Since the precept was introduced nine years ago, a total of £3.8 million has been raised. To date, around 13% of this—approximately £500,000—has been spent on essential preparatory work, including the design and planning application for the Gurkha Square development option, the Condition Survey, Roof Inspection, staff time, legal fees, the Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) project, the Feasibility Study, and the Business Plan.
• This leaves a remaining balance of around £3.3 million, which will be used for the next stages of the project: detailed design, tendering, and the commencement of construction.

Please note the below is only a high level estimate from our consultants – the full costs will be ascertained once the project has been put out to tender and bids from companies received.

View project cost estimates – click here

• The portion of your council tax that was raised specifically for the Harlington project continues to be collected each year and is held in a ring-fenced (earmarked) reserve. This means the funds will not be used for any other purpose and remain set aside exclusively for the Harlington redevelopment.
• These funds will be used to contribute towards the cost of whichever renovation option is ultimately chosen. The increase introduced in 2017/18 fully covers the cost of Option A (the essential renovation works), so no further increase in the precept would be required if that option is selected.
• Options B and C build upon Option A, adding further enhancements that would require additional funding. This is why a new public consultation and vote are being held — to give residents a clear choice over the preferred level of renovation and associated cost.

• All funds collected through the Harlington precept are held in a dedicated account and are regularly reported in the council’s published financial statements.
• The current renovation programme has a clear and achievable timetable, with completion anticipated in early 2028. Unlike the previous scheme, this project focuses on renovation and improvement of the existing building rather than a new-build development, reducing both complexity and risk.
• The Council recognises that residents’ confidence must be rebuilt and is committed to full transparency throughout the process. Regular progress updates will be shared publicly to ensure accountability at every stage.

• Sustainability and energy efficiency are key priorities within the project design. All options include provision for replacing the existing gas boilers with a modern air source heat pump system (see Page 10 of Feasability Study Appendices ).
• In addition, the roof structure is being strengthened to enable the future installation of solar panels, ensuring the building can benefit from on-site renewable energy generation.
• Further measures include the replacement of all single-glazed windows with double glazing and the introduction of additional roof and wall insulation to improve the building’s thermal performance and reduce energy demand.
• Together, these steps will significantly reduce the building’s carbon footprint and improve its long-term energy efficiency.

• The increase in council tax for options B and C would apply for the duration of the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) loan required to fund the renovation — expected to be over 40 to 50 years, similar to a long-term mortgage.
• Once the loan is agreed, the annual repayment amount will be fixed for the full term, meaning it will not increase with inflation or interest rate changes. This ensures the cost remains stable and predictable over time.

• The Harlington needs renovation. We want to ensure any next steps reflect what residents truly want. That’s why this vote is being held: to gain insight into the community’s preferred outcome.
• To ensure fairness, each household has received one form, with the option to complete it online. If any household requires additional forms, these can be requested from our offices — we’re happy to help ensure every resident can take part. An independent auditor will also verify the vote, as it’s in everyone’s best interest to have an accurate and transparent account of residents’ views.
• We understand that not all Fleet residents use every facility provided by Fleet Town Council. However, as caretakers of this building for future generations, the option to leave The Harlington unimproved has not been included. Instead, residents can choose an option that allows for an improved facility within the existing precept.
• Fleet Town Council remains a strong advocate for the wellbeing, inclusivity, and community spirit of our town. The image below highlights some of the many local groups and activities that currently make use of The Harlington.

• Since Fleet Town Council took over The Harlington back in 2010, it has only been funded by Fleet Town Council residents. Other parish councils have been consulted in the past but are unwilling to contribute.