Agenda for Princes Parade Working Group - disbanded in 2018 on Tuesday, 13th March, 2018, 10.00 am

Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Boulogne Room , Civic Centre, Folkestone

Contact: Sue Lewis 

Items
No. Item

5.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declaration of interest.

6.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2017 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2017 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

7.

Opening Statement by the Chairman

Welcome to the Princes Parade working group meeting today.

 

Before we begin, I just wanted to go through some points with you all. I note

that we have present with us today councillors who are members of the working group and other councillors who are observing this meeting. I would like to run through some important points which we must all follow:

 

1.         One of the purposes in having a working group is to enable full and frank discussions to take place on a range of possibilities; It is important to note that this is a working group and this working group does not have decision making powers; the meeting is not open to the public and is confidential. I would ask all members present to respect that confidentiality.

2.         Any papers for this meeting will be collected from you all at the end of the meeting.

3.         I am also conscious that some members of this Working Group also sit on the Planning and Licensing Committee and I have advised previously at the last meeting of the Working Group on the importance of recognising separate roles, to ensure that members do not fetter their discretion. I am also aware that since then the Leader has stated that no Cabinet members will sit on the Planning and Licencing Committee at the meeting where the Princes Parade planning application is considered. This should prevent such a conflict of interest arising.

Minutes:

The Chairman reminded members at the start of the meeting of the purpose of the working group, the meeting is not open to the public and is confidential. Members were asked to respect that confidentiality.

 

He also reminded that Cabinet members who sit on the Planning and Licensing Committee will not sit at the meeting where the Princes Parade planning application is considered. This should prevent a conflict of interest arising.

8.

Princes Parade update

A presentation will be given covering the following:

 

·         Princes Parade planning application (Y17/1042/SH) update

·         Leisure Centre Business Case – presentation by the Sports Consultancy

·         Programme and procurement advice – presentation by Hadron Consulting

·         Princes Parade Viability Report overview

·         Residential soft market testing update

·         Contractor soft market testing

·         Next steps and forward programme.

 

 

Minutes:

Members received a presentation as follows:

 

Princes Parade planning application (Y17/1042/SH) update

 

Further information has been submitted to the LPA on a number of matters relating to Cost and Viability; Heritage; Ecology; Lighting impact and Transport.

 

The LPA may wish to consult further once all responses from HE and KCC have been received.

 

Leisure Centre Business Case

 

Simon Molden, Sports Consultancy presented members with an overview of the long term financial business case, providing analysis of the revenue performance the leisure centre could provide, paying particular attention to the following:

 

·         the current financial position of the existing leisure site alongside what the new leisure centre could provide in terms of a management fee payable the council.

·         demand informed by current local provision and the local demographic profile

·         business plan, including income that can be generated through other means such as an onsite café;

·         management options and operator procurement.

 

Programme and procurement advice

 

Stephen Jepson, Hadron Consulting presented members with an overview of council priorities, contractor procurement and framework and consultant appointment.

 

Discussions around council priorities took place paying particular attention to the need to achieve high quality development, compliance, agreement of the construction programme, risk transfer to the contractor where appropriate and cost certainty for the construction works. It was noted that the project would benefit from the early involvement of the contractor during the detailed design stage and that the project would benefit from a contractor and core consultant team with experience of delivering leisure centres that including swimming pools.

 

Soft market testing has taken with a number of potential contractors who expressed interest in project and were generally comfortable with the suggested budget and timescale.

 

In respect of consultant appointments there are 3 options that can be taken; traditional OJEU procurement, multi-source framework and single source framework. The benefits of the multi-source framework were explained that includes allowing for the relatively quick appointment of a contractor whilst still providing an element of choice.

 

Members were informed that Dover District Council had used the the multi-source route, for their new development, and that the programme was being delivered in accordance with the programme.. It was agreed that a site visit to the Whitfield development would be beneficial to members.

 

A proposed timetable of how the development would proceed was provided subject to the approval of the planning application and agreement of the business case.

 

Princes Parade Viability Report overview

 

Based on a cost plan provided by Betteridge and Milsom members were provided with an overview of the cost to the Council of delivering the Princes Parade scheme and an alternative at the Nickolls Quarry site.

 

Residential/Commercial soft market testing update

 

Members noted that a number of discussions have taken place with developers who may have an interest in delivering the residential element of the scheme. Officers confirmed that key outcomes from these discussions were very positive with a high level of interest from both local and national housebuilders.

 

Next steps and forward programme

The estimated high level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.