Agenda item

To receive a report briefing and seeking endorsement on the work undertaken by Officers and T3, an external consultancy in the development of a new Parks & Open Spaces – Commercial Sustainability Plan.

The Cabinet has

1)  endorsed the principles put forward in the T3 Commercial Opportunities Report (Appendix 1), which will be adopted in seeking to support activities to reduce the costs of the service to the Council and provide a commercially sustainable approach for the service; and which will continue to contribute to the Councils wider strategies and outcomes for the District;

2)  supported the principles set out can be used in connection with the identified sites, but also applied  in relation to other sites which the Council is or may become responsible for; including those falling within the remit of the Head of Leisure, Health and Environment to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity and the introduction of new commercial opportunities;

3)  approved the outline recommendations put forward by T3 Commercial Opportunities Report (Appendix 1), by external consultants, the proposed Phase 1 capital investment plan and wider direction of travel as outlined within this report;

4)  approved the proposed Phase 1 programme of investment utilising the capital bids (£1m) which have been included within the 26/27 budget; and which have subsequently been agreed as part of the Councils Capital Programme;

5)  acknowledged and supported that the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment continue to develop plans for Phase 2 and will submit capitals bids as part of the 27/28 budget setting process – or earlier if possible and supported by the Corporate Director (Finance and Resources) and Section 151 Officer; and

6)  delegated authority to the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment all necessary activities required to deliver the capital expenditure plan (Phase 1), and within the agreed budgets enable the development, finalisation and delivery of new programmes, events and attractions which align with the principles agreed, and which will contribute to the commercially sustainable approach agreed. 

A report by the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking the endorsement on the work undertaken by Officers and T3, an external consultancy in the development of a new Parks & Open Spaces – Commercial Sustainability Plan.

The Executive Councillor for Parks & Countryside, Waste & Street Scene, Councillor Kerr introduced the report and reflected on the positive input from the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships). She advised that the flexibility of the Plan meant that it could work around and not conflict with ongoing works and provided an assurance that the proposed Aqua Park would not adversely affect noise levels or overload the park as it would be used in phases.

In response to questions from the Cabinet, Councillor Kerr advised that the expansion of the car park was aimed to be completed in October 2026, however officers were finalising the construction programme, and this could be brought forward to the Summer of 2026. Regarding the ecological impact assessment, the decision on what level of environmental harm was deemed acceptable was delegated to the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment, but if there was negative ecological impact then he would use that delegation to mitigate that harm. An initial assessment had been completed, with the full report being awaited, however early indications were that work could proceed, with some considerations that would be built into the Plan. Furthermore, the aim of increasing the parking provision to improve income generation was to help facilitate and pay for the work done at Hinchingbrooke Country Park (HCP).

The Cabinet reflected on the importance of the responsibility of taking on positive work handed down by previous administrations and continuing maintaining that work to hand down tranquil ecological spaces to future generations who used such spaces for various purposes. Councillor Kerr took these comments on board, and provided an assurance that it was important that the tranquil, safe nature of HCP was not lost.

Whereupon it was

RESOLVED

that

1)  the principles put forward in the T3 Commercial Opportunities Report (Appendix 1),which will be adopted in seeking to support activities to reduce the costs of the service to the Council and provide a commercially sustainable approach for the service, and which will continue to contribute to the Councils wider strategies and outcomes for the District, be endorsed ;

2)  it be supported that the principles set out can be used in connection with the identified sites, but also applied  in relation to other sites which the Council is or may become responsible for, including those falling within the remit of the Head of Leisure, Health and Environment to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity and the introduction of new commercial opportunities;

3)  the outline recommendations put forward by T3 Commercial Opportunities Report (Appendix 1),by external consultants, the proposed Phase 1 capital investment plan and wider direction of travel as outlined within the report, be agreed;

4)  the proposed Phase 1 programme of investment utilising the capital bids (£1m) which have been included within the 26/27 budget and which have subsequently been agreed as part of the Councils Capital Programme, be approved;

5)  the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment be supported to continue to develop plans for Phase 2 and to submit capital bids as part of the 27/28 budget setting process – or earlier if possible and supported by the Corporate Director (Finance and Resources) and Section 151 Officer; and

6)  authority be delegated to the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment to undertake all necessary activities required to deliver the capital expenditure plan (Phase 1), and within the agreed budgets enable the development, finalisation and delivery of new programmes, events and attractions which align with the principles agreed, and which will contribute to the commercially sustainable approach agreed.