Issue - items at meetings - Royal Pavilion Estate Capital Project

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

RESOLVED:

1)     That the Committee notes the progress made to date on the Royal Pavilion Estate capital project Phase 1, which has an estimated cost of £19.1 million, and the successful bids for ACE Stage 2 and HLF Round 2 match funding totalling £10.8million towards these Phase 1 capital works.

2)     That the Committee delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive and Executive Director, Finance & Resources to procure and appoint the main contractor to carry out the Phase 1 capital works to the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre where the tender price is within the project budget.

3)     That the Committee delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive and Executive Director Finance & Resources to procure and appoint consultants to carry out the works required to satisfy the conditions of the HLF and ACE grant funding where these costs are identified within the project budget.

4)     That the Committee notes the financial implications set out in paragraph 7.1 and agrees that the Executive Director Finance & Resources may implement the option of borrowing to mitigate financial risks and that if this risk does not materialise during Phase 1 the risk provision may be rolled forward to support Phase 2 of the Royal Pavilion Estate improvement works.

5)     That the Committee resolves that the City Council appropriates the land for planning purposes identified as Phase 1 on the plan ‘Phasing of Capital Works to the Royal Pavilion Estate’ at Appendix 1 and on ‘Royal Pavilion Estate Phase 1 Site Plan’ at Appendix 2 under sections 226 and 227 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA1990).

169.1    The Committee considered a joint report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive in relation to Royal Pavilion Estate Capital Project. The report summarised the progress made to date on the project; sought agreement to proceed with tendering and appointment of the main contractor, and proposed options to underwrite the project expenditure while identifying the risks of not proceeding. 

169.2    In response to Councillor Mac Cafferty it was explained that the process of drawing up the cost plans was currently being undertaken; it was acknowledged that there was going to be pressure on costs; however, a process of value engineering would be in place to ensure costs were kept within budget. Final costs would not be known until the tender prices were understood.

169.3    Councillor G. Theobald welcomed the report, and noted that the costs would increase with the amount of time it took to start the project. This work would be fundamental to ensure the viability and sustainability of the estate for the future. 

169.4    The Chair welcomed the report as an important means to safeguard and improve the estate.

169.5    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

169.6    RESOLVED:

1)     That the Committee notes the progress made to date on the Royal Pavilion Estate capital project Phase 1, which has an estimated cost of £19.1 million, and the successful bids for ACE Stage 2 and HLF Round 2 match funding totalling £10.8million towards these Phase 1 capital works.

2)     That the Committee delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive and Executive Director, Finance & Resources to procure and appoint the main contractor to carry out the Phase 1 capital works to the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre where the tender price is within the project budget.

3)     That the Committee delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive and Executive Director Finance & Resources to procure and appoint consultants to carry out the works required to satisfy the conditions of the HLF and ACE grant funding where these costs are identified within the project budget.

4)     That the Committee notes the financial implications set out in paragraph 7.1 and agrees that the Executive Director Finance & Resources may implement the option of borrowing to mitigate financial risks and that if this risk does not materialise during Phase 1 the risk provision may be rolled forward to support Phase 2 of the Royal Pavilion Estate improvement works.

5)     That the Committee resolves that the City Council appropriates the land for planning purposes identified as Phase 1 on the plan ‘Phasing of Capital Works to the Royal Pavilion Estate’ at Appendix 1 and on ‘Royal Pavilion Estate Phase 1 Site Plan’ at Appendix 2 under sections 226 and 227 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA1990).