Issue - items at meetings - Dalton’s Bastion site, Madeira Drive – Leisure attraction proposal

Joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive and the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

47.1    The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive & Acting Executive Director, Environment Development & Housing. Ian Shurrock, Head of Sport & Leisure, introduced the report and explained that the purpose of the report was to seek approval to grant Landlord’s consent, subject to final determination of Heads of Terms under officer delegated powers, for the development of a new zip wire leisure attraction and café on the Dalton’s Bastion site on Madeira Drive.

47.2    The Head of Sport & Leisure explained to the Committee that a Seafront Investment Plan was currently being developed building upon the draft Seafront Strategy and was responding to the recommendations of the Seafront Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel. It was added that Madeira Drive had been highlighted as an area in need of investment and this proposal would maintain a leisure attraction on the Dalton’s Bastion site after the Brighton Wheel ceased to operate.

47.3    The Chair agreed to accept three questions from C.A. Heal & Sons. The Head of Sport & Leisure read the following questions and responses -

Why no tendering process on expiry of the (upper level) 5 year lease and the lower level 10 year lease granted in 2014?

The current lease for the upper level (Dalton’s Bastion) is for 5 years and is due to expire on 29^th August 2016.  The lease is outside of the Landlord and Tenant Act.  When a lease expires the council will consider the performance of the business and tenant and the demand for the premises and the level of investment when deciding whether to offer a new lease.  This is standard practice with all seafront properties that do not have security of tenure.”

Whether limitations on usage as a café (in the 2014 lease) will continue?

Paramount Entertainments Ltd propose to continue to operate a beach goods and ice-cream parlour at beach level as permitted under the 2014 Lease.

The impact of noise nuisance on those playing mini-golf underneath?

The proposed route for the Zip wire does not pass over the mini golf site.

47.4    It was clarified to the Committee that the proposed hours for the attraction were to be open between 1000 hours – 2300 hours and would not exceed this. Toni Manuel, Seafront Development Manager, added that the zip wire leisure attraction would operate all year round but the opening times could vary seasonally.

47.5    Councillor Greenbaum noted that she had received an email from the Kingscliffe Society regarding the development and wished that the public were informed and consulted before a press release. Councillor Robins agreed with Councillor Greenbaum and added that he was pleased to keep an attraction on the Dalton’s Bastion site.

47.6    In response to Councillor Peltzer Dunn, it was explained that the Brighton Wheel was currently on highway land; however, subject to Planning, the highway land would become council Seafront land to ensure the entire site could fall under one Lease.

47.7    The Chair commented that he was pleased an attraction would be replacing the wheel and it would have a positive impact on Madeira Drive.

47.8    RESOLVED – That the Committee agreed to grant Landlord’s consent for the Brighton Zip and cafe development on the Dalton’s Bastion site on Madeira Drive and that officers negotiate Heads of Terms for the required Agreement to Lease and Lease to be agreed under delegated powers by the Acting Executive Director, Environment, Development & Housing, Assistant Director Property & Design and the Head of Law.