Issue - meetings

Members were advised that the corporate portfolio was under review to ensure that the Council only retained assets that supported corporate priorities and delivered value for money, as outlined in the Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) 2017 – 2021. The review had identified the Dreamland, an iconic heritage theme park that had experienced some difficulties in the past, had been brought back to full use through the Council’s CPO efforts and was ready to be returned to private sector ownership to secure its long term future.

Cabinet agreed that the Dreamland site represented a current and potential liability to the Council, with current and future costs which were unsustainable. It was now considered an optimum time to dispose of the site to the lessee and operator, Sands Heritage Ltd (SHL) to safeguard its future and support regeneration of the area.

Councillor Rusiecki and Councillor Yates spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Bayford proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Cabinet is agreed that:

1.  Subject to agreement of external funders regarding the removal of ongoing grant obligations upon the council, and subject to legal advice, to dispose of Dreamland to Sands Heritage Ltd including the boundary as indicated in Annex 1, all rides listed in Annex 2 and the intellectual property rights of Dreamland.