Issue - items at meetings - Stanmer Park Masterplan - Approval of Stage 1 Heritage Grant Applications

Joint report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing and the Executive Director for Finance & Resources (copy attached).

1)            That the Committee agrees the approach outlined in this report to apply for grant funding for the Stanmer Project which includes the submission of a Stage 1 Parks for People application in August 2014 and a Heritage Grant in October 2014.

2)            That the Committee notes the funding requirements for the project and agrees in principle the ring fencing of the match funding identified in this report and to explore options to meet the shortfall in match funding.

3)            That the committee delegates authority to the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing and the Executive Director of Finance & Resources to oversee the completion of the Stage 1 funding bids and to sign off the final documents prior to submission to HLF.

4)            That the committee agrees in principle to the relocation of the City Parks Depot out of Stanmer Park and authorises officers to continue to look into alternative locations and funding options for the relocation.

42.1    The Committee considered a joint report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources and the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing in relation to the Stanmer Park Master Plan & Application for Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Grant Funding. The report proposed to submit a HLF grant application to help deliver the Masterplan once finalised. The report also: summarised the progress made to date on the project; sought approval to progress the HLF bid; set out the proposed governance arrangements to oversee the delivery and sought permission to consult on the Master Plan.

42.2    The Chair noted that the South Downs National Park was a key partner in this work, and were committed a permanent base at the site.

42.3    Councillor Sykes noted the significance of the site, and the number of heritage assets it contained. He felt the plan was very robust, but noted there were still some matters, such as the relocation of the depot, to be fully thought through.

42.4    In response to Councillor G. Theobald it was explained that the ‘Long Barn’ was considered one of the key buildings on the site, and close work with the national park was being undertaken as the building was considered to have the most potential to generate income. Following a further query the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing explained that all sites were kept under review where there had been unlawful encampments and these considerations would be part of the masterplan arrangements.

42.5    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

42.6    RESOLVED:

1)        That the Committee agrees the approach outlined in this report to apply for grant funding for the Stanmer Project which includes the submission of a Stage 1 Parks for People application in August 2014 and a Heritage Grant in October 2014.

2)        That the Committee notes the funding requirements for the project and agrees in principle the ring fencing of the match funding identified in this report and to explore options to meet the shortfall in match funding.

3)        That the committee delegates authority to the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing and the Executive Director of Finance & Resources to oversee the completion of the Stage 1 funding bids and to sign off the final documents prior to submission to HLF.

4)        That the committee agrees in principle to the relocation of the City Parks Depot out of Stanmer Park and authorises officers to continue to look into alternative locations and funding options for the relocation.