Councillors were told at their meeting on Tuesday that the former not-for-profit organisation owed the council $32,915. The parties dissolved their partnership earlier this year, following a request from Workspace 2580.

It was established in 2016 to support educational and business start-up programs as well as community-based tenancies. The council, as the Clinton Street building's owner, was a crucial partner but the relationship ended after Workspace 2580 fell behind in its rent last year.

Brad Nichol, then chairman of its umbrella organisation, Community Plus said at the time that limited floor space to generate income and a broken lift had been a hindrance.

The council took over the facility's management on March 1. All 18 tenants have stayed.

Councillors were told at their meeting on Tuesday that Workspace 2580 had undertaken an extensive audit of its accounts and compiled a list of assets. The outstanding debt was $34,965, less $2050 for the proportion of rates charged on the building.  

While councillors were asked to "write-off" this amount because there were adequate assets to cover the debt, Mayor Bob Kirk said he didn't like this term.

"We are not writing off anything at the end of the day," he said.

"In winding up the partnership there are assets to be disposed of that are valued at an amount that more than covers the debt."

Corporate and community services director Brendan Hollands said computer servers, computers, printers, security cameras, telephones, a security network system, furniture and other building improvements, including LED lights, had a value of $47,050.

"A lot of these are only two years old so if we were to replace them, it would cost upwards of $40,000 so basically $32,965 covers the depreciated value," he said.

Deputy Mayor Peter Walker agreed the words "write-off" left a "nasty taste.

"It means someone is losing somewhere down the line," he said.

The council will register the new operating name as Workspace Goulburn with the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

Cr Kirk revealed that the council could not use the former name because a former Workspace contractor had registered this title with the Department "as if it were her own business."  

"How did that happen? We need to know these things," Cr Margaret O'Neill replied.

"It's pretty dangerous for those kinds of things to (occur) and I hope it never happens again." 

Meantime, former Workspace project officer Julie Kelly recently told The Post that registered charity Maxilife Properties wanted to establish a co-working space, complete with video-conferencing facilities and cafe at the old Goulburn Furniture warehouse building in Sloane Street.

Mrs Kelly would manage the facility, to be known as The Mill Co-Work. 

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