Issue - meetings

The report outlined the requirement to reallocate funding within the Town Deal monies of the simplification pathfinder pilot. There was £500,000 available within the Coastal Wellbeing intervention and £4 million within the aborted Destination Dreamland project.

Councillor Duckworth proposed, Councillor Whitehead seconded and Cabinet agreed that:

“Cabinet would provide approval to:

1. Note that moving funding between themes and projects up to a value of £5,000,000 is permissible under the Simplification Pathfinder Project.

2. Note that the reallocation of the Destination Dreamland project fund has been discussed and agreed within the Simplification Pathfinder Project.

3. Agree that the £4,000,000 from the aborted Destination Dreamland Project now be reallocated to a scheme for the Margate Winter Gardens.

4. Agree that the £325,000 from the aborted project on the Coastal Wellbeing intervention be reallocated to the Walpole Bay Pavillion project.

5. Agree that the £175,000 from the aborted project in the Coastal Wellbeing intervention be reallocated to the Skatepark project.”

Louise Askew, introduced the report and made the following points:

·  £500,000 which was within the Coastal Wellbeing Intervention that would be used to combat inflation challenges for the Walpole Bay Project. Last year a public engagement event for Walpole Bay had 400 people attend and 670 surveys completed;

·  £375,000 was reallocated to the Pavillion;

·  £175,000 was reallocated to the Skate Park Project;

·  The Margate Winter Gardens had the engagement of a specialist marketing agency and had a revised proposal to go out to the market with a £4 million funding allocation to help further private investment;

·  The new Thanet Regeneration Partnership Board met for the first time on 1 March with the goal to ensure the safety of the skate park as well as kiosk facilities for the park. The Council were in the process of looking to find an operator for the park.

Councillors commented and asked the following questions:

·  Councillors wanted to know if the £4 million allocated to the Margate Winter Gardens was for the refurbishment directly or for more consultations. Officers replied that the funds were allocated for refurbishment and that the Council was going out to the market to identify an operator to progress the scheme. Officers later went on to say third party investment would need to match the £4 million initial investment;

·  Councillors talked about the Winter Gardens going to market in the Summer of 2023 and wanted to know how positive the engagement was. Officers replied that there was a lot of interest from various organisations, which included viewings for the result. The feedback received however, was more directed to the level of investment required to bring it to a full business;

·  Councillors were pleased about the addition and reallocation of funds to these projects;

·  Regarding the skate park, Councillors asked if there was any involvement with the Council to make sure the park remained safe and inclusive, especially with young, female skateboarders. Officers replied that when it came to the design stage of the process, rooting out anti-social behaviour was a key goal as well as engaging with the community to support underrepresented groups. The Council was working with Skateboard England and Sport England to help further promote skateboarding to a wider audience;

·  Councillors were concerned about the level of sustainability the skate park would have once in operation. Officers replied that kiosks set up in the park would help with sustainability.

Councillors agreed to note the report.