Agenda item

To consider a confidential joint report by Councillors Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation and Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval to develop and award a contract to manage Queen’s Market in Rhyl.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      delegates authority to the Corporate Director: Environment and Economy for awarding a contract to the named party and for the period shown as detailed in section 3.1 to the report, as recommended by the Project Board.  Delegated authority would be subject to consultation with the Section 151 Officer, Monitoring Officer, Head of Corporate Support Services: Performance, Digital and Assets, and the relevant Lead Members;

(b)      agrees to underwrite any losses for the period of the management contract, as per section 6 of the report.  It was anticipated that this could be covered by an existing budget developed specifically for the purpose of supporting regeneration, and

(c)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Wellbeing Impact Assessment (Appendix 1 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Jason McLellan presented the confidential report seeking Cabinet approval to develop and award a contract to manage Queen’s Market in Rhyl.

Some background to the Queen’s Market development had been included in the report together with an update on progress to date including options considered by the Project Board and recommended way forward.  The reasoning behind the recommendations, including advantages and risks, had been set out in the report together with the potential financial implications and mitigations in that regard.

The Corporate Director: Environment and Economy guided Cabinet through the report detail leading to the current position to date.  In terms of the way forward further detail was provided on the recommended management company in terms of knowledge and experience and the merits of awarding a contract to them to operate the facility.  However, no project came without risk and those risks and how they would be mitigated against were highlighted, including the Council’s responsibility to underwrite any losses for the period of the management contract.

Cabinet considered the report at length and also revisited the merits of the project with the Council acquiring a failing and dilapidated site to provide exciting regeneration opportunities and attract inward investment and ambitious plans for its future use.  Queen’s Market was a key part of the Council’s regeneration vision for Rhyl which would also act as a catalyst for future development and investment.  Thanks were extended to the previous Cabinet and Leader Councillor Hugh Evans in setting the project in motion and their hard work in that regard.

Cabinet discussed various aspects of the report with officers and were keen to ensure opportunities for local businesses and to maximise capacity and use of the facility all year round.  The importance of the promotion and use of the Welsh language and culture within the facility was also highlighted.  Officers provided assurances regarding local quality provision and support for start-up businesses with much work carried out around appropriate rent levels to achieve those aims and provide a high quality attraction all year round with further opportunities for the town centre and wider area, and reference was also made to the wider regeneration improvements including the use of Levelling Up Funding for public realm improvements and other grant funding which would portray a positive outlook.  The work carried out in terms of community safety in the area was also acknowledged and close working with the North Wales Police.  Assurances were also provided regarding the promotion of the Welsh language offer and discussions had already taken place with the proposed management company and further work and support with others including the Council’s Welsh Language Officer and Menter Iaith in that regard.

Having carefully considered the report, including the merits of the proposed way forward together with the risks and potential financial implications, it was –

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      delegates authority to the Corporate Director: Environment and Economy for awarding a contract to the named party and for the period shown as detailed in section 3.1 to the report, as recommended by the Project Board.  Delegated authority would be subject to consultation with the Section 151 Officer, Monitoring Officer, Head of Corporate Support Services: Performance, Digital and Assets, and the relevant Lead Members;

(b)      agrees to underwrite any losses for the period of the management contract, as per section 6 of the report.  It was anticipated that this could be covered by an existing budget developed specifically for the purpose of supporting regeneration, and

(c)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Wellbeing Impact Assessment (Appendix 1 to the report) as part of its consideration.

The meeting concluded at 11.50 am.