To consider recommendations from The Brocket task and finish group to the Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

The Chairman, Councillor Clark, started by explaining the background on The Brocket and the process of what had taken place to date. He highlighted that it had been noted that no work had been carried out on the potential uses of The Brocket. A Task and Finish Group had been constituted in order for stakeholders to input their ideas. An initial meeting was held to gather information on interests. An open day took place for stakeholders to go and view The Brocket and suggest ideas. A second meeting took place to summarise all the thoughts and ideas that had been received, as some comments were not received the  interested stakeholders were given until the end of April 2017 to submit their plans. No plans were submitted by the interested parties.

The Chairman explained the review had identified three possibilities for future use:

a)    Public Use - Meeting current identified needs from within existing budgets. Demonstrably fulfilling a previously assessed and budgeted activity and therefore replacing an existing or proposed facility (subject to planning approval).

b)    Public Use - Meeting a newly identified need and requiring new funding to be assessed and approved. Demonstrably required to fulfil a newly assessed need to provide an additional facility (subject to budget and planning approval).

c)    Development Options – Preserving the listed features. Utilise the site for the creation of new dwellings or other commercial use to generate significant revenue for the Borough (subject to planning approval).

The Chairman informed the Panel that it was the role of the Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel to endorse the report from the Task and Finish Group and send recommendations to the Cabinet (Cabinet Prioritisation Sub Committee).

Councillor Samantha Rayner, Lead Member for Culture and Communities thanked the Task and Finish Group for looking into the uses for The Brocket and making the recommendations to the Cabinet.

The Panel UNANIMOUSLY AGREED to support the proposals to go forward and send a report to the Cabinet Prioritisation Sub Committee.