Agenda and draft minutes

5.1

Les Transformations

S Birch provided an update to the Board.

The report on consultation and engagement has been completed.

Overall responses were generally positive. Further engagement for the phase 1 works is planned with drop-in sessions planned for early November along with links with the college following the shadow board discussions.

MC confirmed that the businesses along Market Street have been visited for verbal feedback, there is ongoing dialogue with the Church and the businesses affected by the proposed works. Feedback has been generally positive.

PH acknowledged the response levels and commented that it is often seen more of an effort to compliment than complain.

SW confirmed that there is a risk of consultation fatigue, but the proactive approach has worked well and seen as exemplar in areas, especially as part of the TIP development.

ANg stressed the importance of engaging with the smaller businesses to

maximise the potential investment opportunities as part of the programme delivery. MC reaffirmed that this is ongoing and will continue.

5.2

Shadow Board

The shadow board played a large role in the formation of the TIP and just as we are reviewing the Board’s Terms of Reference, we are reviewing the future role of the Shadow Board and membership.

Discussions have commenced with Southport College to link to the Travel and Tourism students as well as the larger student population through their wider enrichment activities.

Officers have also met with Adrian Antell representing the Southport Learning Partnership for the primary school age group. IR as part of his new role at the Southport Learning Trust will link with the high school cohort.

This group aim to meet by the end of this half term to agree the updated terms of reference for the shadow board and establish how this will link within the main board remit and establish aspirations for the legacy of this project. Engagement activities are already in the planning stages for Les Transformation phase 1 consultations and MLEC construction facility links and workability workshop with the contract team.

5.3

Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC)

MC confirmed that there has been a huge amount of consultation work carried out to date as part of the planning process with further events planned for the Visitor Economy Businesses.

The engagement session with Southport College will take place on 21st November and is being managed by the core consultant team who will provide an overview of the project, the different construction roles, and activities for approx. 15-30 students. The team are looking how this can be extended to Stanley High School students who have been heavily involved with consultation events to date. G&T consultants are keen to promote roles in construction to female students and are invested in achieving their social value targets.

FR and PH both endorsed the scheme but did question whether board members are best placed to do this and whether it should be in the capacity as individuals, board members, BID etc. PH went on the query the weight  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1

Marine Lake Events Centre

MC provided a general update. RIBA Stage 2+ is complete and stage 3

underway. The Planning application was submitted on the 6th July and validated the week after. MC is in discussion with the Planning team, the decision target date is December 2022.

A link to the planning portal was provided in the chat during the meeting and can be accessed here. Detailed discussion with variety of statutory authorities underway as part of the planning process. Pre-planning discussions have been taken into account in the submission.

Business case review underway.

SB confirmed that the Combined Authority External Investment Panel endorsed the remaining £17.7m investment earlier this month and is due to go to their board for approval on 14th October. As a funder the CA has key oversight of the project.

ASM have been appointed as the preferred Operator with the contractor

procurement underway. Expected to provide further update at the end of the year when we can.

RA queried the RIBA works stages and the planning submission. MC confirmed that design work was Stage 2+ and hybrid approach taken to develop the detail sufficiently for the planning application.

ANg questioned when the best time would be to publicise the progress made and target potential investors such as accommodation and other ancillary support services. MC confirmed that some discussions are ongoing, but the main driver will be once planning permission is sought and investors have the more certainty about the opportunities progressing. SW confirmed that the Council remains proactive in that regard.

MC provided members with an overview of the key programme dates with the scheme likely to be open Spring 2026.

MA reaffirmed the council’s commitment to deliver the project. She

acknowledged the huge amount of work taking place behind the scenes to

deliver the projects and wanted to take this opportunity to thank SW and the team for their efforts in progressing this far and recognises the huge amount of work coming up. This was echoed by RF and the board.

RF queried who was part of the procurement process for the selection of the Operator. MC confirmed that there was team as part of the negotiated process.

There was an open tender process guided by the consultants IPW. The team

comprised MC, SB, members of SMBC procurement, legal and finance teams.

The contractor's procurement exercise is being led by G&T. It is anticipated that there will be a 25-year agreement with the Operator including regular reviews.

SW added that the robust governance processes are in place with fortnightly progress updates to the CEO and monthly updates to elected members. Existing processes are being followed but recognising the capacity and capability of resources and market challenges including cost inflation is influencing priorities.

The economic position has been reviewed to reflect the spend commitment, CA investment and, through the market research G&T and other key consultants have carried out, the current inflation risk. RF confirmed that the risk registers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.