Issue - items at meetings - Saltdean Lido

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (copy attached).

23.1    The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive detailing the recent history and setting out the current position in respect of Saltdean Lido. It was noted that at its meeting held on 20 September 2012 the Committee had requested that they should be notified of the outcome of the marketing exercise for the Saltdean Lido Complex in advance of the matter being given full consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee. The report provided the Committee with details of the outcome of that marketing exercise. Commercially sensitive information in relation to the exercise had been provided to Members separately and could be considered in closed session.

23.2    It was explained that on 24 January 2013, approval had been given by the Policy and Resources Committee to marketing of a 50 year full repairing lease for the Saltdean Lido Complex, including the operation, including the operation of the Lido pools and the provision of additional community facilities. The aim of the lease was to achieve a long–term viable future for the facility.                                                                                                                                                                        

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23.--    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee notes that the council’s provisional preferred bidder for a lease of the Saltdean Lido Complex is the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company and that the reserve bidder is Freedom Leisure;

            (2) That the Committee notes that a further report recommending that Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company as the preferred bidder will be considered by Policy & Resources Committee, providing that remaining issues identified in the bid evaluation are satisfactorily resolved; and

            (3) That the Committee notes that if the remaining issues cannot be satisfactorily resolved with the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company, negotiations will take place with Freedom Leisure as reserve bidder with a view to recommending to Policy & Resources Committee that they be substituted as the preferred bidder1)

23.1    The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive detailing the recent history and setting out the current position in respect of Saltdean Lido. It was noted that at its meeting held on 20 September 2012 the Committee had requested that they should be notified of the outcome of the marketing exercise for the Saltdean Lido Complex in advance of the matter being given full consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee. The report provided the Committee with details of the outcome of that marketing exercise. Commercially sensitive information in relation to the exercise had been provided to Members separately and could be considered in closed session if necessary.

23.2    It was explained that on 24 January 2013, approval had been given by the Policy and Resources Committee to marketing of a 50 year full repairing lease for the Saltdean Lido Complex, including the operation of the Lido pools and the provision of additional community facilities. The aim of the lease was to achieve a long–term viable future for the facility.

23.3    Councillor Brown stated that she was pleased that matters were moving forward in respect of this site commending the tireless hard work of the “Save Saltdean Lido” group in seeking to bring the Lido back into community use, she wished them every success with their heritage lottery bid.

23.4    Councillor Mears stated that she was delighted with the progress that had been made. Everyone had worked very hard, the Council and Community had worked together and this represented a tremendous opportunity and an exciting point in the process. Notwithstanding that the building was in a poor state of repair and a number of issues remained to be resolved, none of them were insurmountable. Councillor C Theobald concurred with all that had been said by Councillors Brown and Mears and stated that she looked forward to receiving further updates on the progress being made.

23.5    Councillor Hawtree welcomed the progress that had been made. Although there would continue to be a number of challenges moving forward and it would take time to get things right, things were clearly moving in the right direction.

23.6    Councillor Fitch supported the work that had taken place to date whilst recognising that there was a long way to go. He was pleased to note that the Council was going to continue to liaise with and support the preferred group in their bid process.

25.7    The Chair, Councillor Bowden echoed all that had been said by his fellow Committee Members commending the excellent work that had been done to date and would undoubtedly be on going. It should not be lost sight of that the Council had spent a considerable sum in taking action to secure surrender of the lease and inworking with the community to bring the matter to its current point. It was regrettable that it had not yet been possible to re-open the pool.

23.8-   RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee notes that the council’s provisional preferred bidder for a lease of the Saltdean Lido Complex is the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company and that the reserve bidder is Freedom Leisure;

            (2) That the Committee notes that a further report recommending that Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company as the preferred bidder will be considered by Policy & Resources Committee, providing that remaining issues identified in the bid evaluation are satisfactorily resolved; and

            (3) That the Committee notes that if the remaining issues cannot be satisfactorily resolved with the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company, negotiations will take place with Freedom Leisure as reserve bidder with a view to recommending to Policy & Resources Committee that they be substituted as the preferred bidder1)