Issue - meetings

Resolutions: That Cabinet

a)    Noted the work to date undertaken in the development and delivery of the bike park project

b)    Approved the revised budget in line with appendix 1 of this report

c)    Delegated Authority to the Assistant Director Economic Growth and Regeneration to enter the SE (Places to Ride) grant agreement, subject to being satisfied with financial and legal due diligence

d)    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director Housing and Communities to agree the terms of the operation and maintenance agreement (OMA) with the bike park operator (which shall include back-to-back requirements of the SE Grant condition), subject to being satisfied with financial and legal due diligence

e)    Delegated Authority to the Assistant Director Assets & Environment to grant a lease to the proposed operator of the bike park for 25 years on terms acceptable to the Council, subject to being satisfied with financial and legal due diligence

f)     Received a further report in the event any issues arise with the financial and legal due diligence exercise where the risks listed in paragraphs 5.15.1 to 5.15.6 materially impact on the delivery of the project and/or the grant funding conditions

Reason for Recommendations

The recommendations establish financial and requisite delegated authorities to proceed with the project. Whilst there are a number of outstanding risks and interdependencies on this project, these approvals are necessary to enable the project to continue.

Alternative Options

None

The Chairman noted that this report contained exempt appendices and should any discussion involve them then the committee would move into private session.

At the Chairman’s invitation Councillor Lizzy Bowen presented the report, copies of which had been previously circulated.

The Cabinet was informed that this had been an NBC led proposal, which now had various stakeholders including WNC, with a peppercorn rent being offered. There were very few bike parks in the country, the nearest one being nearly 2 hours away so this was an exciting venture. The section used would be a disused section of the Delapre gold course, which would include various routes for different needs.

Provisional parking is to be provided which was a requirement of the grant, with forecasted costs having increased mainly due to the price of raw materials. Cabinet was informed that some Section 106 money had been made available for this project but that there had been no firm price on the works as yet. It was hoped that work would start next year.

Councillors made the following comments.

• The maintenance of the bike park was a concern and it was questioned whether this would end up falling solely to WNC.
• It was noted that the fees had gone up significantly, this was a concern.
• Concern had been raised about the idea of delegated authority, should this not be a collaboration with all councillors involved.
• It was queried why a peppercorn rent was approved for some options but not for others.
• It was noted that a lot of emphasis had been placed on NSport.
• Could there be confirmation that should this not work, the land would not be used for a housing development.

Councillor Fiona Baker advised that having worked with NSport over a period of time she had found them to be exceptional at delivering their projects.

Councillor Lizzy Bowen agreed with the concerns raised about the price of the project, but after having investigated other parks costings found the price given was a fair one. Peppercorn rent would be used in areas where nothing else had been achieved in order to help the wellbeing of the people of the county.

Councillor Malcolm Longley advised that the Assistant Director Assets & Environment would be in charge of the project and he was very confident in his ability to complete the project. It was advised that the project was a full funded one.

Councillors Phil Larratt and Mike Hallam agreed and felt this was an excellent use for the site and would attract people to the area.