Agenda and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Executive Decisions made by Cabinet on 31 August 2022.

No Member having raised concern when asked by the Chairman, it was

RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the Executive Decisions made by Cabinet on 31 August 2022.

To receive the Delegated Executive Decisions made by Portfolio Holders or Officers on 6 October.

No Member having raised concern when asked by the Chairman, it was

RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the Delegated Executive Decisions made on 6 October 2022.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda and to consider any dispensations.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the revised Code of Conduct, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests.  (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting.)

Members may, however, also decide, in the interests of clarity and transparency, to declare at this point in the meeting, any such disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, as well as any other registrable or other interests.

If a Member requires advice on any item involving a possible declaration of interest which could affect his/her ability to speak and/or vote, he/she is advised to contact the Monitoring Officer at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were raised under this item.

To consider whether the items, if any, in Part II of the Agenda should be considered in the presence of the press and public.

There were no excluded items on the agenda.

Any member of the public who wishes to ask a question, make representations or present a deputation or petition at this meeting should apply to do so by no later than 0:01am (one minute past midnight) two working days before the meeting.  Information on how to make the application can be obtained by viewing the Council’s Website www.southlakeland.gov.uk or by contacting the Committee Services Team on 01539 733333.

(1)        Questions and Representations

            To receive any questions or representations which have been received from members of the public.

(2)        Deputations and Petitions

            To receive any deputations or petitions which have been received from members of the public.

No questions, representations, deputations or petitions had been received in respect of this meeting.

To note the contents of the latest Forward Plan (published on 11 October).

No Members having raised concern when asked by the Chairman, it was

RESOLVED – That the contents of the Forward Plan published on 11 October 2022, be noted.

To consider options relating to the Scheme to repair and refurbish the Lido and Promenade in Grange-over-Sands.

Summary

Note – Following consultation with Chairman of the Council under the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of the Constitution (Call-in and Urgency, (j)), Call-in had been waived for this decision. The Chairman of the Council gave consent that the proposed decision was reasonable in all the circumstances and to it being treated as a matter of urgency.

The Leader and Promoting South Lakeland and Innovation Portfolio Holder presented a report on the Grange-over-Sands Lido and Promenade. He outlined the Council’s plans to open the Lido site to the general public for the first time in 30 years and noted the importance of the site as a heritage asset.

The report provided a summary of the history of the site and highlighted the recent decisions to open the site up to the public and improve the promenade, which had been considered by Cabinet in March 2021 as well as by the Planning Committee (SL/2019/0803, SL/2019/0804 and SL/2020/0103). Members’ attention was drawn to the rationale for intervention and delivery of the full scheme, which was driven by the rapidly deteriorating structural elements at the Lido. It was noted that there was a risk of structural failure and potential heritage enforcement action if the Lido site was not repaired.

The report set out the recommendation for the site, Option 1, which had project costs at an estimated £6.8 million (Undertaking the full scheme to the promenade, playground and lido as set out in section 3.6.2 of the report). The alternative, Option 2 was also presented to members (Undertaking the promenade works in their entirety including playground with only essential fabric repairs undertaken to the Lido site as set out in section 6.3 of the report), which had project costs of £4.35 million.

The Leader and Promoting South Lakeland and Innovation Portfolio Holder highlighted the project shortfall, which was £1,793,800 and informed Members that the proposal was to fund the shortfall through CIL contribution and the NNDR Pool reserve. He added that due to the unstable economic conditions there was a risk of increased costs if the project was delayed.

In proposing the recommendations as set out in the report, the Leader and Promoting South Lakeland and Innovation Portfolio Holder thanked officers for the detailed report.

Members raised a query regarding the tender process and the timescales involved as well as the potential of increased costs. The Acting Operational Lead for Asset and Commercial Services informed Members that the Council had worked with a Quantity Surveyor to prepare a Bill of Quantities and therefore had a firm idea of the costs involved in the project. He noted that in order to comply with current procurement regulations, the Council had to go out to tender and that this would be a two stage process.

In response to a question on the historic items on the Lido site, the Acting Operational Lead for Asset and Commercial Services informed Members that the planning permissions had a condition that required an  ...  view the full minutes text for item CEX/54

To consider support of the development and delivery of the Towpath Trail along the Lancaster Canal route.

Summary

The Economy, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder presented a report on the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership (LCRP): Financial Contribution towards Towpath Trail.

The report set out the variation to the Council’s funding contribution, which was aimed at securing match funding to continue the Towpath Trail surface upgrades, forming part of the wider improvement and enhancement of the Towpath. Members’ attention was drawn to the request from LCRP for SLDCs’ contribution to focus on the Stainton to Crooklands section of the canal, rather than the Kendal to Natland section as previously agreed.

In proposing the recommendations as set out in the report, the Economy, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder highlighted the opportunity to develop an active travel route way.

Members expressed support for the proposals to enhance the Towpath, as it was a well-used and important part of local history and felt that the improvements would benefit residents’ health and wellbeing.

Decision

RESOLVED – That

(1)        the variation of the £120,000 Towpath Trail financial contribution to improvements along the wider canal route within the South Lakeland district boundary be approved;

(2)        the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) financial contribution of £80,000 towards the Towpath Trail be approved; and

(3)        a grant agreement be entered into with the Canal and River Trust to distribute the allocated £200,000 funding and for thisi to be delegated to the Director of Customer and Commercial Services in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and the Economy, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder.

Reasons for Decision

The decision links to the following Council Plan Priorities:-

Working across boundaries – South Lakeland is delivering sustainable economic growth in the north of England with exceptional quality of life. The Council is intervening to deliver strategic development sites within its communities and working with partners to deliver critical infrastructure. The Council is working to attract funding to deliver this critical infrastructure and promote unique value propositions. The Towpath Trail proposes an enhanced leisure route for walking, low mobility and cycling that would link Kendal to rural communities including Natland, Sedgwick, Stainton, Hincaster, Crooklands, Holme and Burton-in-Kendal southwards to north Lancashire villages, Lancaster and eventually on to Preston where the Lancaster Canal ends.

Delivering a balanced community – the proposed enhancements will increase opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, including young people and the elderly, to access leisure amenities and services by means other than motorised transport.

A fairer South Lakeland – improved cycling and walking routes will promote health, wellbeing and help tackle poverty by providing healthy and lower cost alternative ways to access amenities, services and for recreation purposes.

Addressing the climate emergency – the proposed enhancements will facilitate more journeys on foot or by bike, and therefore reduce reliance on carbon-producing transport.

Alternative Options

That Cabinet does not support the ambitions of the LCRP and the Towpath Trail, and that a financial contribution is not made towards the proposed enhancements. This is not the recommended option as this is an important leisure project across South Cumbria and North  ...  view the full minutes text for item CEX/55