Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Thomas)

Report of Corporate Director (Regeneration).

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Thomas)

(It was noted that Councillor Langhorn had previously declared a personal interest in this item in view of his son’s membership of the Young Archaelogists’ Club.)

The Corporate Director (Regeneration) submitted a report to advise Cabinet on the condition of the Roman Bath House and surrounding land and to seek future funding to improve and maintain that condition.

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

Option 1 – That increased maintenance regimes to the Bath House and surrounding land are undertaken to ensure that the property would be of an appropriate standard to feature as one of the city’s main historic attractions. This would require increased funding being made available and is a reversal of the council’s previous views on the maintenance of the area. Despite increased funding for maintenance there remains a risk that because of the remote location of the site, there could still be some vandalism in the vicinity.

Option 2 – do nothing. This would result in the continued deterioration the site with council failing to meet the requirements that English Heritage place on the owners of monuments such as this. If the council is to improve promotion of the cultural heritage of the district, the current poor condition of one of the main attractions would detract from that and lead to public criticism. In addition there would be continued growth of species such as Japanese knotweed over areas of the site.

Option 1 is preferred as this would lead to the consolidation and improvement of a major historic attraction in the district.

It was moved by Councillor Thomas and seconded by Councillor Langhorn:-

“(1)     That increased maintenance regimes to the Bath House and the surrounding           land are undertaken to ensure that the property would be of an appropriate standard to feature as one of the city’s main historic attractions.

(2)     That a general fund revenue growth bid for funding be included in the current budget process for an amount of £17,700 in 2010/11 and £2,000 per annum in subsequent years.”

Members then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)               That increased maintenance regimes to the Bath House and the surrounding land are undertaken to ensure that the property would be of an appropriate standard to feature as one of the city’s main historic attractions.

(2)               That a general fund revenue growth bid for funding be included in the current budget process for an amount of £17,700 in 2010/11 and £2,000 per annum in subsequent years.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Head of Property Services

Head of Financial Services

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision will lead to the consolidation and improvement of a major historic attraction in the district.