The O&S Board are asked to consider a verbal update on the progress of the project since the Cabinet decision in January 2020 to approve the principle of rebuilding and improving the Mudeford Sandbank Beach House café. Following the update, the Board will be asked to consider whether any further scrutiny of this matter is required and whether to include it on the Board’s Forward Plan.
Minutes:
The Chairman advised that he had requested that this issue be added to the agenda for this meeting due to the public interest in this issue and as at the time of the Cabinet decision the O&S Board had decided to not scrutinise the issue prior to Cabinet. The intention of the item was to allow an opportunity for the O&S Board to receive an update on the progress on this development. A statement received on this issue from a Councillor not on the Overview and Scrutiny Board was read out to the Board a copy of which can be found on the Councils website page for this meeting. The Chairman invited the Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Community to provide the Board with an update on the project. The Chairman asked the Portfolio Holder to refer to the general sentiment of the public questions received.
It was noted that there was a forthcoming Planning application but particular issues concerning this would not be referred to. The Cabinet report didn’t give as much detail as normal in terms of specifics of the planning as there was a desire to get the project moving as quickly as possible. There had been a number of representations regarding the now submitted planning application. The Portfolio Holder advised that he has been very clear in proposing the recommendations in the Cabinet report that he wanted to ensure good dialogue with the beach hut owners and all stakeholders connected with the project. There had been a number of meetings with officers and the Portfolio Holder and with the Beach Hut owners and there was an extensive Q&A session with Hengistbury Head residents. The Portfolio Holder noted that a lot of the issues raised were related to planning matters. There were a number of misrepresentation issues related to the planning applications.
The Chairman asked about the differing statements between the Cabinet report and the submitted planning application. For example, that he rent increase would be based on an uplift in commercial activity, but the planning application suggested that commercial activity would not increase. The Portfolio Holder advised in relation to Cllr N Brookes statement there had been very significant consultation with all stakeholders. The original Cabinet report didn’t say there would be an increase in business but did refer to an uplift in ground rent. This didn’t necessarily mean that there would be more visitors.
A Councillor asked that if there was a situation with an extended pandemic would the proposal deal with possible changes in the way in which future public interaction may work. It was noted that there were no changes to the design following the pandemic, but it would provide an improve space for social distancing.
A Councillor felt that given the summation of comments on one hand and the increase in rent versus the inability to get more footfall on the site that the issue should be paused at the moment whilst the conflicting issues are fully considered. The Portfolio Holder advised that the old café and shop were not able to keep up with demand, therefore there could be more business without having an impact on the footfall on the spit.
RECOMMENDED that Cabinet pause its support of the project and reconsider its decision until such a time as that the commercial rationale that underpins it be reviewed in light of the planning constraints that call into question the commercial viability of increased revenue originally projected.
Voting: For: 7, Against 0, 7 abstentions