Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development which enables the Board to consider and decide the future of the West Park Centre in the context of the outcome of the assessment of two options, as instructed by Executive Board in February 2013.  In addition, the report provides a response to the deputation to Full Council on 8^th May 2013 from the West Park Centre Campaign Group.

Further to Minute No. 4, 19^th June 2013, the Director of City Development submitted a report which enabled the Board to consider and determine the future of the West Park Centre, in the context of the outcome of the assessment of two options, which had been explored, as requested by Executive Board in February 2013.  In addition, the report provided a response to the deputation to Full Council on 8^th May 2013 from the West Park Centre Campaign Group.

As resolved by Executive Board on 15^th February 2013, the two options further explored were as follows:

Option 1: partial demolition of the West Park Centre with refurbishment and re-opening of the remainder;

Option 2:  demolition of the West Park Centre and decant of city-wide services elsewhere with a local community facility developed on the existing site.

Emphasis was placed upon the fact that all users of the centre who were yet to find alternative accommodation would be provided with the necessary support to identify suitable premises or rehearsal space for their use in the future, and it was requested that an update be submitted to a future Board meeting in respect of progress being made to accommodate all relevant users of the West Park Centre.

The value of the West Park Centre building, as an important focal point and asset for the community was highlighted by a Member.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the points raised in the deputation by the West Park Centre Campaign Group to Full Council on the 8^th May 2013 be noted.

(b)  That having considered the assessment of the 2 options outlined within the  submitted report, the following be approved:

(i)  the option detailed within the submitted report for partial demolition of the West Park Centre and reopening of the remainder is not progressed;

(ii)  the West Park Centre is therefore demolished and authorisation to

  incur expenditure of £613,000 from Capital Scheme Number

  16765/WES/000 on the proposed demolition of the West Park 

  Centre is approved;

(iii)  the Council makes available up to £800,000 of capital, financed from the receipt from the sale of the West Park Centre site, should it be required, to deliver solutions to meet the needs of the former users as identified within paragraph 3.26 of the submitted report, which may include the provision of a new build community facility or investment in an existing community building in the area, with the Executive Member for Leisure and Skills taking the lead role in the accompanying consultation process;

(iv)   subject to the outcome of resolution (iii) above, to progress proposals for the disposal of the West Park site.

(c)  That an update report be submitted to a future Board meeting in respect of progress being made to accommodate all relevant users of the West Park Centre.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the matters included within this minute, whilst Councillor Golton required it to be recorded that he voted against the matters included within this minute)