Tuesday 27th February, 2024
Colchester Amphora Homes is dead. Or to put it in #localgov speak, Colchester Amphora Homes is being hibernated.
We don’t hold out much hope for the Council owned company being disturbed out of this deep slumber and into the Sunny Colch sunset.
The plans to confirm that this is a dead company will be discussed when the Governance and Audit Committee next meets at the Town Hall on 5th March.
The Committee papers confirmL:
“In line with the approved Future Strategy for Amphora and following a review of the company’s assets and agreements with third parties, to propose the formal hibernation of Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd (CAHL), including the treatment of its assets and agreements.”
SEE YA!
From the company’s website:
“Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd (CAHL) is a housing development company set up to deliver new homes for the people of Colchester.
It was established in 2018, under the parent company Colchester Commercial Holdings Ltd (CCHL), to provide high-quality new homes for market sale and affordable rent.”
A half decent FoI would be to ask how many homes CAHL has delivered since 2918, and then balance this against the costs.
Being a private company, and the City Council may be able to dodge such a request.
Whatever.
Why the reason for hibernation?
It’s all about the money, innit.
The report admits:
“There is no realistic prospect of an offsetting income in the foreseeable future.”
With the City Council now promoting the strapline of ‘Fit for the Future,’ Colchester Amphora Homes has failed its medical at the Town Hall.
Hibernation rather than winding up is the preferred option. The corpse of the company may twitch back to life in the future. But the reality is that it would cost more to kill the beast, and then attempt a resurrection, compared to the deep slumber.
The company currently has only two employees left standing – itself an indication as to how much of a dead business this has become.
The report adds:
“The Future Strategy for Amphora envisages that both will take up roles elsewhere within the Colchester family.”
Which is nice.
Happy Town Hall Families.
The Chronic has a Patreon page over here if you want to support my work.