Councillors at their last meeting deferred a report and recommendation that the structure, housing Workspace Goulburn, be sold along with its rear car park on Lanigan Lane.

They had resolved in principle last November to sell the building after December, 2019 or when a new community centre at the former Bourke Street depot was completed. A report described it as "surplus to strategic requirements."

When the matter arose again last Tuesday, councillors deferred it, without discussion, until after a Community Centre working party meeting, which was to be held on June 25. All councillors are on this group.

It's understood the matter was discussed in a briefing session before last Tuesday's meeting.

The report stated that the building returned $320,000 annually in rent, but only $157,600 was guaranteed beyond June 30, 2020. Seventeen Workspace Goulburn tenants on the ground floor pay a total $13,500/month in rent.

Many of these existed when the council this year took over the former Workspace 2580 set-up. But several more organisations, including Destination NSW, have since taken up space on a month-by-month agreement.

Justice NSW occupies 500 square metres on the ground floor, paying $157, 600 annually under a lease that expires in 2023. However, there are options for renewal of this arrangement.

The Smith Family also took up space on the ground floor last December, leaving 220sqm of vacant space in the building.

Corporate and community services director Brendan Hollands stated in his report that rates, electricity supply, water and sewer charges and cleaning cost the council $51,148 annually. It had also spent almost $50,000 on maintenance so far this year.

"If Council resolves to retain ownership..., further consideration would need to be given to the coordination and management of all tenants, particularly if Council wishes to make use of the vacant floor space on the ground floor," he wrote.

"This takes into consideration the ongoing short-term nature of the rental agreements, expectations of tenants, (particularly those who were part of the original Workspace 2580 arrangement) and the obvious desire to maximise revenue for the hiring of available meeting rooms and event space."

Mr Hollands estimated employment of a coordinator or manager would cost about $80,000.

General manager Warwick Bennett told The Post the council hadn't promoted the building vigorously to other potential tenants.

"It allows for quite a number. We are also trying to get long-term lease agreements for some, as they would like that, and we're working through that process now," he said.

The need for money to fund council projects, ongoing operational costs and the community centre's eventual construction were among reasons proffered for the building's sale.

It's understood a further report will come back to councillors.

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