Issue - meetings

Report No: CAB/FH/17/031

Portfolio Holder: Lance Stanbury              Lead Officer: Jill Korwin

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.           The assessment of a cinema and restaurant development for Newmarket, be supported, in principle.

2.           A revenue budget facility of up to £50,000 be allocated and funded from the ‘Investing in our Growth Agenda’ Reserve, to enable detailed feasibility to be undertaken on preferred sites, to improve cost confidence and enable the preferred site to be identified.

(Report No: CAB/FH/17/031)

Councillor Lance Stanbury, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth presented this report which explained that, following on from the recommendations of the Forest Heath Retail and Leisure Study, this report informed Councillors of the findings of the feasibility study undertaken into the proposed leisure opportunities in Newmarket town centre and outlined the feasibility undertaken at potential sites.  The detail of these potential sites were contained within the exempt Appendices to Report No: CAB/FH/17/031.  Councillor Stanbury made specific reference to Section 2 of the report in relation to the staged approach which was being undertaken with this project and explained that throughout the process the Council would continue to engage with potential cinema operators to ensure market interest.  Section 4 of the report also referred to the effect of the increased car parking demand within the town centre.

As well as considering the optimum location for a cinema and leisure offer, the project would also look at opportunities to enhance The Guineas.  The Council must protect its investment in this site and ensure that any scheme that came  forward, ultimately benefitted this development and the wider town centre offer.  Therefore, to develop this opportunity further, shortlisted site schemes needed to be fully appraised and costed and, therefore, the Cabinet were also being requested to support the allocation of a budget facility of up to £50,000, to enable detailed feasibility to be undertaken to enable a preferred site to be selected.

Whilst considering this report, the Cabinet also wished to discuss the content of exempt Appendices 2 to 6 and as reference was to be made to specific detail, it was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED for these discussions to be held in private session (see Minute Number 343. below) and the press and public were then excluded from the meeting.

Following the conclusion of the discussions in the private session, the press and public were re-admitted to the meeting and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.           The assessment of a cinema and restaurant development for Newmarket, be supported, in principle.

2.           A revenue budget facility of up to £50,000 be allocated and funded from the ‘Investing in our Growth Agenda’ Reserve, to enable detailed feasibility to be undertaken on preferred sites, to improve cost confidence and enable the preferred site to be identified.