Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to provide information on the final findings of the work completed by the council’s external advisors, along with their recommendations for the next steps, in relation to the Queen’s Drive redevelopment project. 

The purpose of the report was to provide information on the final findings of the work completed by the council’s external advisors, along with their recommendations for the next steps, in relation to the Queen’s Drive redevelopment project. It should be noted that Phase 1 (Road and Car Park) works were now complete and Grenadier Estates were on site and well on their way to deliver the new watersports centre (Phase 2). The focus was therefore the future of the Phase 3 site.

Jane Ashton spoke on behalf of Andy Lock who was a member of Transition Exmouth and who was involved in the HemingwayDesign visionary exercise. Transition Exmouth endorsed a sustainable approach to the outcome of Phase 3 and were keen that environmental, social, economic and cultural considerations with a future driven by good health and well-being for all were crucial. Early on in the consultation it was stated that Exmouth had declining visitor numbers, shorter visits and less spend per head compared to elsewhere in East Devon. Queen’s Drive Phase 3 may not in itself reverse this trend unless it was imaginative and progressive. There was concern that the project was playing it safe with an addition of a hotel adjacent to a family play area, this was not the best use of space and did not address the wider objectives previously set.

Councillor Brian Bailey from Exmouth Town Council said if there was to be a hotel then the site should be sold to give the council funds to develop the rest of the area for play and recreation which made economic sense. The recreational area could then be more inventive. The hotel should be a mid-market hotel to attract younger people and families. The Harbour View Café needed to be developed by a separate business from the hotel in order to keep prices reasonable.

Discussions included the following:

·       Ward members needed to be included in the discussions of Phase 3

·       The need to get the seafront finished but in a manner that supported the democratic process

·       The selection panel was ill suited. EDDC was held in low regard by Exmouth residents

·       EDDC was not to get involved in direct investment

·       To keep the guidelines in mind and get real-time marketing information

·       Take advantage of the empty site by ensuring Climate Change issues would be  paramount to future development and businesses

·       Professional advice stated the need for a hotel. Clarity was needed for potential hotel businesses who may be interested

·       There had never been a business plan with no evidence to show the need for a hotel on the seafront

·       What the community wants must come first

·       Concern a lot of the site may be taken up by the hotel with not much left for the community. Must see a cohesive approach to the whole site

RESOLVED:

1.     a selection panel comprising of the Leader, the Portfolio Holders for Asset Management, Finance and Economy, an EDDC Exmouth ward member appointed by the Leader, the Service Lead (Place, Assets and Commercialisation) and Project Manager – Place & Prosperity, be established for the purpose of agreeing the selection criteria for the commercial development (Phase 3a & 3b), which should be agreed in consultation with the Exmouth Queen’s Drive Delivery Group. Then carrying out the evaluation of the bids received following the marketing exercise with a view to making a recommendation to Cabinet in relation to the preferred bidder / operator. That the Strategic Lead Finance be given delegated authority to progress the rest of the actions identified in Section 6 of the report,

2.     that where any Phase 3b land is not disposed of under Recommendation 1 above, any further decisions on any disposals or development proposals in relation to delivery of the open leisure spaces/public realm would remain with the Cabinet and a separate report to be brought to Cabinet,

3.     that if, following the marketing exercise, there was an opportunity for the council to be involved in direct investment and/or delivery of new development on the site, that this would be assessed through the Commercial Investment Framework process before being reported to Cabinet,

4.     that delegated authority be granted to the Strategic Lead Finance in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Asset Management to oversee delivery of further popular temporary attractions on Queen’s Drive Space during the 2020 season, and

5.     that the Exmouth Queen’s Drive Delivery Group sits in public as from 1 March 2020 with Parts A & B agendas as required.

REASON:

To enable the final phase of the Queen’s Drive redevelopment project to complete the thorough independent scoping process that had been underway for the last 2 years since the council decided to undertake to refresh the vision for Queen’s Drive phase 3 in 2016. To progress to the next stages of delivery.

To ensure that the popular Queen’s Drive Space could continue to offer a range of leisure and free play activities for local residents and visitors to Exmouth throughout 2020.