Issue - items at meetings - Future Developments for the Royal Pavilion Estate

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (copy attached)

(1) That the feasibility study to address challenges across the Royal Pavilion Estate be noted;

(2) That the submission of a stage 1 bid by the City Council to the Heritage Lottery Fund for improvements to the Royal Pavilion Estate in November 2013 be agreed; and

(3) That permission to agree the details of a Memorandum of Understanding between BHCC and Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival covering the scope of the joint work be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive.

9.1       The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive seeking the necessary permissions to enable the Royal Pavilion Estate to build on the success of current joint work, such as marketing and fundraising activities which had been carried out in concert with the Brighton Dome and Festival.

9.2       It was noted that existing partnership arrangements were informal and whilst they had been sufficient for the joint work to date, going forward, there needed to be something more formal in place to cover the scale of joint work on the development of the Royal Pavilion Estate Masterplan. There were sufficient separate governance arrangements in place to cover all potential plans in each organisation, but there was now a need to create sufficient shared governance arrangements to cover the scope of joint work.

9.3       Councillor Brown referred to the configuration of the Pavilion Gardens, any plans to revitalise were welcomed and it was recognised that it was important to encourage those who used them to respect them as they were a resource for visitors and residents alike.

9.4       Councillor C Theobald concurred stating that her preference would be for the gardens to be laid out more formally. She also referred to the catering arrangements about which she had received some complaints.

9.5       Councillor Fitch stated that it was very important to ensure that good catering arrangements were in place as the standard if poor and or cost could deter some visitors, treatment of the gardens was also important in this respect.

9.6       RESOLVED - (1) That the content of the feasibility study to address challenges across the Royal Pavilion Estate be noted;

(2) That approval be given to submit  a stage 1 bid by the City Council to the Heritage Lottery Fund for improvements to the Royal Pavilion in November 2013; and

(3) It be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive to agree the details of a Memorandum of Understanding between BHCC and Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival covering the scope of the joint work.