Decision details

Decision taken:

To permanently cease the operation of a plant nursery at King’s Park Drive (King’s Park Nursery) and seek alternative community uses for the site in line with the Bournemouth Borough Council Act 1985. To implement this decision from the end of February 2024 to support the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). This will initially enable a £85,800 saving per annum to be realised.

Kings Park Plant Nursery has a budgeted subsidy to the Council of £95,800. Last financial year the subsidy was £225,400 and the team have worked hard to reduce this with 2023/24 forecast to cost £100,000, slightly higher than budget. Options to make the nursery cost neutral, cannot be completed quickly enough and would need at least 3 years, therefore ceasing the plant nursery activity immediately is the recommended option. This will ultimately remove the £95,800 budgeted subsidy from the council’s medium term financial plan, initially providing £85,800 of required savings for 2024/25 with a further £10,000 in 2025/26 and allow the team to explore alternative community uses for the site.