Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/SE/14/015

Cabinet Member: Sarah Stamp       Lead Officer: Richard Hartley

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     a range of proposals for appropriate further leisure development of part of West Stow Country Park to complement the existing attractions have been considered;

(2)     planning permission for the preferred option be sought in advance of selecting a partner to work with in order to minimise the risk; and

(3)     the taking of the business plan to the market in order to secure a suitable operating partner for the preferred option, as contained in Exempt Appendix 1 to Report No. CAB/SE/14/015, be approved.

(Councillor Clements declared in the interests of transparency that he held a fishing permit for West Stow Country Park.  Councillor Mrs Broughton declared a Local Non-Pecuniary Interest as Chairman of the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Trust. Both remained in the meeting for the consideration of this item.)

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/14/015 (previously circulated) which sought approval for a number of recommendations relating to the development of part of West Stow Country Park.

Councillor Mrs Stamp, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet, including that West Stow Country Park would cost the Council £132,350 in 2014/2015. Whilst considerable savings had already been made against the spend in previous years, a range of proposals needed to be considered to fill this budget gap for 2015/2016 and beyond whilst protecting West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village. Such options were summarised in Exempt Appendix 1a.  A preferred option was provided in a business case, as contained in Exempt Appendix 1. Exempt Appendices 2-10 and A-C provided additional information in support of the preferred option.

The following amendments to the first two recommendations were proposed:

That Cabinet:

(1)     considers a range of proposals for appropriate further leisure commercial development of part of West Stow Country Park to complement the existing attractions;

(2)     considers minimising the risk of the preferred option by seeking gaining planning permission in advance of selecting a partner to work with;

These proposed amendments were accepted by the Cabinet.

Councillor Mrs Stamp commended the Commercial Manager for his work on this project and how the business case provided a good starting point for encouraging commercial partners to come forward and develop the preferred option. 

Councillor Mrs Broughton, Chairman of the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Trust, stated that the Trust had been consulted on the preferred option and had supported the scheme.  The Trust had acknowledged the prospect of attracting additional tourism to the Park and the Anglo-Saxon Village, and reducing the budget gap.

Councillor Mrs Levack was in attendance and wished to speak on matters provided in the Exempt Appendices.

Therefore at this point, it was proposed, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act.

Following consideration in private session, the Cabinet concluded its discussion in public.  It recognised the exciting opportunities for creating further leisure development at West Stow Country Park and subsequently

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     a range of proposals for appropriate further leisure development of part of West Stow Country Park to complement the existing attractions have been considered;

(2)     planning permission for the preferred option be sought in advance of selecting a partner to work with in order to minimise the risk; and

(3)     the taking of the business plan to the market in order  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19