Issue - meetings

Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing)

Further to Minute No. 13 above, the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – Place which provided details of the progress to date on the Southport Town Deal project for the Enterprise Arcade and the proposed operating model. The report also provided details of the enabling works required to the Crown Buildings to facilitate the project.

Decision Made: That

(1)      the progress to date and the forthcoming project milestones be noted;

(2)      the finalisation of the procurement strategy for the main contractor for the refurbishment works to the Enterprise Arcade and the enabling works required in the Crown Buildings be delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member, to ensure the capture of good practice and lessons learned from recent contractor procurement processes and construction projects;

(2)      the proposed alternative operating model be approved and that the Executive Director of Place be requested to progress discussions / procurement with potential partners and tenants as detailed in Option C, set out in the report;

(3)      approval be given to Officers developing the business plan model for Option C and, if in line with current assumptions that the project will not require any revenue subsidy, the Executive Director of Place be granted delegated authority in consultation with the Cabinet Member to approve the business plan model; and.

(4)      the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary capital estimate of £0.24m for the enabling works in the Crown Buildings to be funded from Capital receipts.

Reasons for the Decision:

To ensure that the build project continues to progress in line with the agreed Town deal funding parameters.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

In summary:

a)       Do nothing, reopen negotiations with the preferred operator;

b)       Re tender the opportunity to the market;

c)       Delivery in-house and maintain control and management responsibility of the project; and

d)       Create new CIC with partner organisations.

Section 3.5 of the report and Appendix C (Summary of Operator Model Options) provided further details of the options considered.