Minutes to follow

The Cabinet considered the recommendations of the Transport, Asset Management and Inward Investment Working Party held on 23^rd September 2021 concerning the Notices of Motion referred to the Working Party.

Resolved:

That the recommendations of the Transport, Asset Management and Inward Investment Working Party concerning the Notices of Motion set out below, be approved:

1. Kursaal Comeback

(a) That the Notice of Motion, be noted.

(b) That the lease not be reacquired until such time as the costs and liabilities associated with the Kursaal have been fully assessed and the options for intervention can be considered. This needs to be assessed against the Council’s wider budget position recognizing the ambition to see the Kursaal reopen to the public, in a way that both preserves its rich heritage and delivers the best option for local taxpayers and maintains financial sustainability for the Council.

(c) That officers work with Concrete Culture to explore the ideas sourced from Southend residents and look at ways to evolve and realise Concrete Culture’s vision for the Kursaal through a financially viable and self-sustaining operating model, which has been co-created and produced with Southend residents and with appropriate external funding input to create and operate any sustainable model.

(d) That officers explore potential funding options, for all interested parties, including the Levelling Up Fund (Round 2) and the Community Ownership Fund, which may help to secure a strong and lasting future for the Kursaal as an important part of Southend’s identity.

(e) That officers continue the dialogue with the leaseholders, particularly in relation to their plans, potential occupiers, the condition of the building and compliance with the lease terms.

2. Wildflower Verges

(a) That the motion relating to the environmentally sound management of roadside verges, be noted.

(b) That the continued naturalisation of highways verges in locations identified by officers in consultation with relevant portfolio holders and ward councillors, that meet the requirements of both highways’ operational maintenance and environmental considerations, be supported.

(c) That awareness raising and understanding of the benefits of naturalised grass areas be promoted.

(d) That alternative options around the use of glyphosate-based herbicides be developed and reported to Cabinet at a later date.

3. North South Public Transport Service

(a) That the Notice of Motion, be noted.

(b) That officers continue to establish a list of schemes suggested during the BSIP consultation and activities, and to then assess schemes to be brought forward for further analysis.

4. Government Levelling Up Fund

(a). That the Notice of Motion be noted.

(b). That it be noted that whilst the aspirations in the Notice of Motion are supported, alternative funding would be required.

5. Traffic Emissions Reduction in Southend

That it be noted that consideration of the Notice of Motion regarding traffic emissions was deferred to a future meeting of the Working Party, once the new Head of Sustainability was in post.

Reasons for decision:

To respond to the recommendations from the Working Party in relation to the Notices of Motion.

Other options:

None

Note: This is an Executive Function

Eligible for call-in to:

Place Scrutiny Committee (Item 2 – Wildflower Verges, Item 3 – North-South Public Transport Services and Item 5 – Traffic Emissions Reduction in Southend)

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee (Item 1 – Kursaal Comeback and Item 4 – Government Levelling Up Fund)

Cabinet Member: Cllr Woodley / Cllr Gilbert as appropriate to the item

The Cabinet considered the recommendations of the Transport, Asset Management and Inward Investment Working Party held on 23^rd September 2021 concerning the Notices of Motion referred to the Working Party.

Resolved:

That the recommendations of the Transport, Asset Management and Inward Investment Working Party concerning the Notices of Motion set out below, be approved:

1. Kursaal Comeback

(a) That the Notice of Motion, be noted.

(b) That the lease not be reacquired until such time as the costs and liabilities associated with the Kursaal have been fully assessed and the options for intervention can be considered. This needs to be assessed against the Council’s wider budget position recognizing the ambition to see the Kursaal reopen to the public, in a way that both preserves its rich heritage and delivers the best option for local taxpayers and maintains financial sustainability for the Council.

(c) That officers work with Concrete Culture to explore the ideas sourced from Southend residents and look at ways to evolve and realise Concrete Culture’s vision for the Kursaal through a financially viable and self-sustaining operating model, which has been co-created and produced with Southend residents and with appropriate external funding input to create and operate any sustainable model.

(d) That officers explore potential funding options, for all interested parties, including the Levelling Up Fund (Round 2) and the Community Ownership Fund, which may help to secure a strong and lasting future for the Kursaal as an important part of Southend’s identity.

(e) That officers continue the dialogue with the leaseholders, particularly in relation to their plans, potential occupiers, the condition of the building and compliance with the lease terms.

2. Wildflower Verges

(a) That the motion relating to the environmentally sound management of roadside verges, be noted.

(b) That the continued naturalisation of highways verges in locations identified by officers in consultation with relevant portfolio holders and ward councillors, that meet the requirements of both highways’ operational maintenance and environmental considerations, be supported.

(c) That awareness raising and understanding of the benefits of naturalised grass areas be promoted.

(d) That alternative options around the use of glyphosate-based herbicides be developed and reported to Cabinet at a later date.

3. North South Public Transport Service

(a) That the Notice of Motion, be noted.

(b) That officers continue to establish a list of schemes suggested during the BSIP consultation and activities, and to then assess schemes to be brought forward for further analysis.

4. Government Levelling Up Fund

(a). That the Notice of Motion be noted.

(b). That it be noted that whilst the aspirations in the Notice of Motion are supported, alternative funding would be required.

5. Traffic Emissions Reduction in Southend

That it be noted that consideration of the Notice of Motion regarding traffic emissions was deferred to a future meeting of the Working Party, once the new Head of Sustainability was in post.

Reasons for decision:

To respond to the recommendations from the Working Party in relation to the Notices of Motion.

Other options:

None

Note: This is an Executive Function

Eligible for call-in to:

Place Scrutiny Committee (Item 2 – Wildflower Verges, Item 3 – North-South Public Transport Services and Item 5 – Traffic Emissions Reduction in Southend)

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee (Item 1 – Kursaal Comeback and Item 4 – Government Levelling Up Fund)

Cabinet Member: Cllr Woodley / Cllr Gilbert as appropriate to the item