Agenda item

Lease of premises at North Lodge Park, Cromer

Summary:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options considered:

The District Council owns a premises, formerly used as café/tea room and nursery along with adjoining public toilets at North Lodge Park, Cromer.

 

The premises were advertised to let during 2022 and a number of bids have been received.  These bids have been reviewed and assessed and recommendations are now made to Cabinet regarding a lease proposal.

 

A variety of bids with different use options have been received and considered in detail.

 

As this asset is an integral part of North Lodge Park and its rental income supports Council services an alternative option to dispose of the premises was considered and discounted.

 

  1. Proposal ref 1 outlined in the exempt Appendix A would demonstrate best financial consideration in accordance with s.123 Local Government Act 1972 and is the option recommended by officers
  2. Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Appendix A may be considered where Members are satisfied that such bid promotes or improves social well-being  in the whole or part of its area to such an extent that the general rule of best financial value should be departed from.*
  3. The remaining proposals are of significantly lower financial value and these proposals are unlikely to meet best value consideration

 

 Where departing from the best financial value option set out at option 1 above, any reason for the decision would need to detail that the lease disposal is likely to contribute to the promotion or improvement of social, economic or environmental well-being.

 

 

Conclusions:

 

 

Following advertising of the vacant premises on the open market, ten bids were received for the lease of the Seaview buildings at North Lodge Park.  Due diligence has been undertaken on each of these bids as outlined in section 2 of the report. Recommendation 1 is the officer recommendation on the basis of best financial value, but an alternative option, above, is provided for Members to consider where they are satisfied that another bid promotes the improvement of social well-being to such an extent that the general rule of best financial value, should be departed from.

 

 

Recommendations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for

Recommendations:

 

It is recommended that Cabinet:

 

Approve proposal ref: 1 as outlined in the exempt appendix A which demonstrates best financial consideration, in accordance with s123 of the LGA Act 1972

 

A lease of the premises which brings the building back into use and will see an improvement in the Park through tenant investment.  The proposal will generate income that will be used to fund Council services.

 

Where departing from the best financial value, if a bid in option 2 above is approved, the reasons for disposal will need to have regard to the contribution of that bid to the promotion or improvement of social, economic or environmental well-being.

 

 

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr. E Seward

Ward(s) affected

Suffield Park and Cromer Town wards

 

Contact Officer, telephone number and email:

Renata Garfoot.  Asset Strategy Manager.  Tel: 01263 516086 

Email: Renata.garfoot@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

Approve proposal ref: 3 as outlined in the exempt appendix A.

 

Members are satisfied that the bid promotes or improves social well-being in the whole or part of its area to such an extent that the general rule of best financial value should be departed from.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

A lease of the premises which brings the building back into use and will see an improvement in the Park through tenant investment.  The proposal will generate income that will be used to fund Council services.

 

In departing from the best financial value, and approving Bid 3, the reasons for disposal were considered to have regard to the contribution of that bid to the promotion or improvement of social, economic or environmental well-being.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman invited the Estates & Assets Strategy Manager to introduce this item. She began by explaining that the proposals related to a Council-owned premises formerly used as a café/tea room and nursery along with adjoining public toilets at North Lodge Park, Cromer. It was currently vacant and the toilets were redundant as new ones were being provided nearby.

 

She said that 10 bids had been received for the site, five of which were considered to be of sufficient value to merit consideration.

 

The Chairman said that there was a huge variety in the bids that had come forward.

 

Cllr R Kershaw said that he understood the need for members to consider the best value bid but it was not just about money, it was also about the best option for the community. He said that initially, he was minded to support the proposal for a nursery but after further consideration, he felt that it was important to bring some life back into North Lodge Park and nowadays, parents tended to just drop off and fetch their children from nursery, with very little interaction otherwise. He also questioned the demand for a nursery and therefore had come to the conclusion that Option 3 would be the best project as it would keep the facility open to the public, throughout the day and into the evening. He therefore proposed that Option 3 was progressed.

 

The Chairman said that he welcomed the number of new schemes and projects that were happening in North Lodge Park, such as the refurbishment of the Collector’s Cabin and the new public conveniences on the former tennis courts.

 

Cllr L Shires said that she seconded Cllr Kershaw’s proposal to progress with Option 3, purely for the social value which was immeasurable.

 

Cllr V Gay said that in the present climate, she felt that Option 3 was more viable as it was a community-led project.

 

Cllr W Fredericks sought confirmation that additional nursery provision wasn’t needed in Cromer at the present time and that it was a sector that was well supported in the town. The Chairman replied that there would be a need for additional provision in the future but at the current time there was sufficient provision at Suffield Park Infant School, which had benefitted from Section 106 funding several years ago. He concluded that members needed to consider whether North Lodge Park was the right location for a nursery. Cllr Fredericks commented that there was very little parking for parents to drop off their children.

 

It was proposed by Cllr R Kershaw, seconded by Cllr L Shires and

 

RESOLVED to

 

Approve proposal ref: 3 as outlined in the exempt appendix A.

 

Members are satisfied that the bid promotes or improves social well-being in the whole or part of its area to such an extent that the general rule of best financial value should be departed from.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

A lease of the premises which brings the building back into use and will see an improvement in the Park through tenant investment.  The proposal will generate income that will be used to fund Council services.

 

In departing from the best financial value, and approving Bid 3, the reasons for disposal were considered to have regard to the contribution of that bid to the promotion or improvement of social, economic or environmental well-being.

 

Supporting documents: