Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
Democratic Services

Mobile menu icon

Decision details

Decision Maker: Babergh Council

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To seek approval to progress with development of new entrance and associated improvements for Belle Vue Park

Decision:

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.1            That the additional information provided with the report, further to its resolutions of 11 March 2021 relating to the Belle Vue site, and that recommendations to Council as follow at 1.3 and 1.4 below be noted.

1.2            That with immediate effect from the approval of the recommendations of this report, delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director for Economy, Business & Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy and Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments to procure and appoint the contractor to deliver the scheme outlined in 1.3 below following a formal tender process.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL

1.3            That Council approve the addition to the Capital Expenditure Programme of the Council’s spend of up to £1.12m to create a new high quality, secure and accessible park entrance with supporting retaining wall structure and new café/toilet block facilities (to ‘Changing Places’ or equivalent standard) at the Belle Vue Park site in Sudbury.

1.4            That Council authorise forward funding of essential works by borrowing until the capital receipt is received, and to ensure that the overall site delivery programme critical path (including the retirement living development) remains on track.

REASONS FOR DECISION

1.           The Council has committed to deliver for the community and visitors to the town a new park entrance, café and toilet facilities at Belle Vue park in Sudbury. Cabinet resolved to divert this capital receipt and with understanding of the timeframes involved.

2.           As a condition of sale of adjacent land, the Council is contractually obliged to deliver completed, as a minimum, the new park wall retaining structure within nine months of completion of the sale. Those works are also to have commenced within three months of sale completion.

3.           Approval of the Capital Programme works will enable the Council to progress the necessary works and to also seek stakeholder engagement input and additional funding support (including CIL/S106/external contributions).

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

1.1      a) DO NOTHING (Not Recommended) – the site for these proposed works continues to be retained and maintained by the Council. Cabinet has resolved to reinvest capital receipt from wider-site sale proceeds into these works. The Council has contractual obligations from the sale of the adjacent site to undertake retaining wall structural works, as a minimum, and within a timeframe to enable the retirement living complex development to come forward. Sale of the adjacent site means the current park entrance will need to be moved.

1.2      (b) SEEK FORMAL APPROVAL TO DELIVER THE FULL WORK-PACKAGE AND ADD THE SCHEME TO THE COUNCILS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROGRAMME (Recommended) – to enable the commissioning of a multi-disciplinary professional team to support and deliver the stakeholder and community engagement and detailed design work, surveys and investigations, planning, principal contractor procurement, liaison with the retirement living developer’s professional team (including party wall matters) and construction delivery within the required timeframe.

Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None

Any Dispensations Granted: None

 

Publication date: 06/07/2021

Date of decision: 05/07/2021

Decided at meeting: 05/07/2021 - Babergh Cabinet

Effective from: 14/07/2021

Accompanying Documents: