Issue details

Assessment of Applications for the Countryside Sites and Implications for the County Council

In February 2016 the County Council resolved to cease funding the countryside service from April 2018.  Revenue funding was stopped in April 2016, and the service is funded from reserves in 2016/17 and 2017/18.  In the two year period before funding stops, it was resolved that attempts should be made to secure alternative arrangements for the future of the County Council’s 84 countryside sites so the public could continue to enjoy free access to as many sites as possible.  In practical terms this meant identifying other organisations that could manage or own the sites.

 

On 28th June 2016 the Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Cultural Services agreed the selection and evaluation criteria to be used in the identification of organisations with whom the County Council could enter into negotiations to transfer the countryside sites which have been identified for closure.

 

The County Council has received eleven applications from organisations and individuals wishing to take over a number of the sites, and these applications have been evaluated in accordance with the agreed criteria.

 

This report provides details of the evaluations, and provides a number of recommendations for a way forward.  The report is in two parts, firstly setting out the results of the evaluations and the impact on the sites; and secondly a range of activities that need to be carried out to keep the process of transfer and service transformation moving forward.

 

This is deemed to be a Key Decision and the provisions of Standing Order No. 26 have been complied with.  Compliance with SO25 was not possible, the reason for this is that the proposals were not sufficiently advanced to allow publication of a notification 28 days in advance as required under SO25.  In addition, there is an immediate need to inform five organisations that site leases will potentially transfer to them and they can begin to plan for the new financial year from April.

 

 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Significant effect in 2 or more electoral divisions;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 22/02/2017

Anticipated restriction: Part I  -

Decision due: 7 Mar 2017 by Executive Scrutiny Committee

Decision due: 8 Mar 2017 by Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Cultural Services

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone

Decision due: 9 Mar 2017 by Deputy Leader of the County Council

County Councillor David Borrow

Contact: Andrew Mullaney Email: andrew.mullaney@lancashire.gov.uk Tel: 01772 534190.

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