Cabinet agreed:
1. To approve the future model for delivery of the Commercial Port as set out in Option 5, in Section 10 (of the cabinet report);
2. To give delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer to develop the procurement framework and process to be followed, to secure a port operator in accordance with Section 11 of this report;
3. To give delegated authority to the CEO to conduct an open and competitive tendering process in order to make a recommendation to Cabinet to secure a Port Operator, based on the proposed scoring criteria; following which the CEO is authorised to negotiate and award a concession contract and enter into an accompanying lease, in accordance with Section 11 of this report;
4. To give delegated authority to the CEO to conduct negotiations with the aggregate operator, which will be subject to a best value exercise to ensure the agreed proposals add value to the Port of Ramsgate, the Council, and its communities. Negotiations will also cover any requirements in terms of formal approvals required being achievable for the expansion. The agreed proposals will be recommended by the CEO to Cabinet for approval. Following this, the CEO is authorised to enter into a subsequent contractual agreement with an accompanying new (or revised existing) lease with the aggregate operator.