Issue - meetings

Report No: CAB/FH/18/012

Portfolio Holders: Andy Drummond and David Bowman

Lead Officers: Mark Walsh and Damien Parker

RESOLVED:

That subject to successful negotiations:

1.           A transfer of the freehold of Brandon Country Park from Suffolk County Council to Forest Heath District Council for the nominal sum of £1, be approved;

2.           Forest Heath District Council operates Brandon Country Park consistent with the management of other parks in West Suffolk;

3.           The estimated 2018/19 revenue budget position for the park outlined in paragraph 3.4 and Appendix 2 of Report No: CAB/FH/18/012 and the potential costs thereafter, be noted.

(Report No: CAB/FH/18/012)

(Councillor Robin Millar declared a local non pecuniary interest in this item, being a Suffolk County Councillor and remained in the meeting during the discussion and voting thereon)

Councillor David Bowman, Portfolio Holder for Operations, presented this report which explained that Suffolk County Council (SCC) had reviewed its activities and would like to transfer Brandon Country Park to Forest Heath District Council (FHDC), on the basis that the West Suffolk Parks Team already managed a large portfolio of sites across both Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury and was, therefore, able to realise economy of scale savings that could be realised were the facility to be managed by that Team.  Suffolk County Council also wanted to see continued use of the site as a Country Park, so this transfer would be a good fit.

The details of the proposed transfer were set out in Section 3 of the report.  However, following recent negotiations between the two Councils, the agreed position was as follows:

-   SCC to transfer the park and the gate lodge to FHDC for £1.

-   SCC to also provide a one-off payment of £25,000 to assist FHDC during the initial year of operation.

-   FHDC to provide a 10 year strategic management plan which met SCC’s requirements.

-   The freehold transfer to be subject to a protective covenant which would ensure that the facility remained a public asset for the benefit of the people of Suffolk.

It was also being proposed for the target transfer date to be set for 1 April 2018.

The Cabinet Members expressed their support for this proposed transfer, which presented an opportunity for the operation of this asset to be delivered at a local level.  However, it was also acknowledged that there would still be a requirement to review the operation of the Park to ensure the right balance between the offer to the public and ensuring it was run in a cost-effective manner.

It was proposed, seconded and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That subject to successful negotiations:

1.           A transfer of the freehold of Brandon Country Park from Suffolk County Council to Forest Heath District Council for the nominal sum of £1, be approved.

2.           Forest Heath District Council operates Brandon Country Park consistent with the management of other parks in West Suffolk.

3.           The estimated 2018/19 revenue budget position for the park outlined in paragraph 3.4 and Appendix 2 of Report No: CAB/FH/18/012 and the potential costs thereafter, be noted.