Decision details

Mr Nicholas Cooper presented the petition containing 1,056 valid signatures, as follows:

“We wish TDC to explicitly reassure Friends of Ramsgate Seafront that under no circumstances will a discretionary extension of the practical completion date be given to SFP Ventures (UK) Ltd or any developer of Royal Sands before or after 22nd May 2013.  Should SFP Ventures (UK) Ltd fail to meet this deadline, TDC must act immediately and restore the site to the People of Ramsgate to implement their own Vision for the Future.

“We, the undersigned, believe extensions to deadlines for the uncompleted work on the Pleasurama site will only compound the problems and leave the people of Ramsgate with a useless eyesore for many years to come.

“This developer has lost public trust and confidence and this development will not achieve the stated aim, of regenerating the Ramsgate Seafront.”

Councillor Poole addressed the points raised in the petition as follows:

1.  Discretionary extension:  The potential for extension would arise only if the developer specifically requested an extension.  The circumstances prevailing at the time of such request would have to be taken into consideration, including:  the current stage of the building programme; an up-to-date a financial appraisal; and the legal basis on which to refuse an extension.  A unilateral decision of the Council prior to a request would be premature, and could be prejudicial to the Council taking subsequent action.

2.  Acting immediately to restore the site to the people of Ramsgate upon SFP failing to meet the deadline:  Initially, the Council would not be in a legal position to deliver this request as it would have to both determine the current development agreement and deal with associated legal consequences.  If successful, the Council would have to seek recovery of the leases.  Those actions could not be based on a decision that the site should go to a third party, as that would not be supported by a court.  As the Council had a duty to seek best value overall for Thanet residents from sites identified for disposal, any group wishing to take on the site would need to consider at least the site value that was expected from SFP.

It was proposed by Councillor Poole, seconded by the Leader, and RESOLVED that the petition be referred to Cabinet for determination.