Issue - meetings

Williamson Park Update Report

 

 

Meeting: 20/01/2009 - Cabinet (Item 134)

134 Williamson Park Update Report pdf icon PDF 34 KB

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Fletcher)

 

Report of the Head of Cultural Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Fletcher)

 

(It was noted that Councillors Blamire and Burns had previously declared personal and prejudicial interests in the following item in view of their role as members of the Williamson Park Board of Directors. Councillors Blamire and Burns left the meeting prior to consideration of this item. It was further noted that the Corporate Director (Finance and Performance) had also declared an interest as Secretary to the Williamson Park Board of Directors. He also left the meeting prior to consideration of this item.)

 

The Head of Cultural Services submitted a report updating Cabinet on the latest position at Williamson Park following the interim management arrangements undertaken by Cultural Services.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

1. Current interim management arrangements continue and estimated budget for 2009/2010 is agreed, to include annual growth of £82,000 from 2009/2010 onwards.

The operation of the Park would continue thus enabling appropriate time to review key areas with further reports to Cabinet provided on options to improve current operation.

 

Support would continue to be provided to current staff and various improvements planned and identified in the Audit report would be able to be implemented.

 

Council has clearer picture over value for money received in return for the subsidy provided.

Additional cost to Council of £82,000 from 2009/20010 onwards.

 

Additional grant support not providing value for money.

 

Significant additional work impact on Cultural Services and other services would need addressing.

Would place significant pressure on existing Cultural Services work programme and business plan, as well as other key Council Services involved.

2. Continue current interim management arrangements, with a view to bringing operation back “in-house”, on the basis that no growth bid will be required.

The operation of the Park would continue, but possibly at a reduced level (possibly part closure of some facilities).

 

£82,000 growth based on Private Sector Accounting principles, therefore potential for efficiencies should the Park operate under Local Authority Finance rules.

Possibility that current operation could only reasonably be achieved on the basis that the estimated budget for 2009/2010 is agreed, to include a growth of £82,000 in 2009/1010, however it is not yet known whether the Park is operating as efficiently as it could.

 

Potential costs of decommissioning elements of the current park operation or winding up of the Company (costs not yet determined).

Without the additional growth of £82,000 in 2009/1010 or reduced level or change in operation the Park will not be viable.

 

Limited guarantee of any need for future support in addition to that already being offered from Council.

 

Theoretically, there is a further option of retaining the status quo i.e., where Williamson Park reverts to operating without support of interim management arrangements from City Council and estimated budget for 2009/2010 remains at standard inflationary increase on previous year. However, this is not really a viable option for the Council as the Company is Local Authority Controlled, therefore the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134