TOWER PAVILION PROJECT CONSULTATION

November 2017

1. Current Position

Skegness Town Council made a Coastal Community Fund application in 2016 to replace the dilapidated Pavilion building with a Community enterprise, events and heritage Hub. Unfortunately, this bid was unsuccessful. Skegness Town Council still considers this an important area needing urgent regeneration to improve Tower Gardens and provide a much-needed amenity for the residents of Skegness.

The site is currently owned and managed by East Lindsey District Council, initial discussions indicate that they would transfer this asset to Skegness Town Council if it was for the benefit of the community.

If Skegness Town Council does not act the future of this site is unknown and is in the hands of East Lindsey District Council.

2. New Pavilion Project

The Town Council remains committed to replacing this dilapidated pavilion building. As a result of a failed grant bid, and with other grant opportunities dwindling the Council now considers that self-funding a smaller scheme will deliver a successful outcome for the Town. After conducting research on similar projects, the Council is confident it can deliver a community building at the site with a budget of approx. 1.5 million, a target completion date has been set for Spring 2019.

3. How Much Will This Cost?

As an illustration, if the Town Council was to take out a loan today for the whole £1,500,000 (the maximum the Council would consider, it may be less) repayable over 30 years (the original Pavilion was used for over 100 years), the cost per year would be £74,000 and this equates to approximately £13.87 per household per year or 26p per week (less than 0.9% of current band D council tax). This would be held on a fixed interest rate which are currently at historically low levels and currently lower than the rate of inflation.

However, by careful management and re-prioritisation of the Council's Business Plan objectives and budget, the Council can achieve its aim to build a new pavilion in Tower Gardens and its other main objectives with a below inflation increase in the precept in 2018/19. This works out to about an extra 4p per week for a band D property. Most people's properties in Skegness are Band C or below and will pay up to a third less than this.

Over and above the Business Plan, the Council recommend raising an additional 3p per week (band D property) to contribute to the Council's reserves so that future annual precept increases can be maintained at a similar 7p – 8p per week over the life of the Business Plan, based on currently planned service levels and economic circumstances. Support for the approach of smoothing out peaks and troughs in income and expenditure is being sort as part of the budget communication and consultation.

4. New Project Principles

• To replace the dilapidated pavilion building with a new fully accessible community building sympathetic to the area and to the building it is to replace.
• To provide a building with at least 80% of the space dedicated to community use including a community hall, community meeting room, kitchen/café to service the hall, changing places facility (to include hoist) and disabled access toilets.
• To fund the build through the precept with business plan objectives amended to ensure the project is delivered will minimal increase to the precept.
• To look at future funding opportunities once the pavilion is built to develop the site further to include a heritage centre and provide equipment for the community to use in the hall.
• To provide a small office space (less than 20% of the building) for Skegness Town Council to be based and manage the administration and maintenance of the building, giving the pavilion a sustainable future.

5. The Council Needs You

For this project to be successful the Council needs your ideas, comments, feedback and support. In this initial phase the Council needs to know if you support the project principles? The project can then be developed and plans produced which can then be consulted on further with your input into the design and use of the space.

The information gathered will only be used to inform the Council of the support or otherwise for the new pavilion project principles, your postcode is needed to determine if you live within the parish boundary. The information will not be shared with any marketing agencies but may be shared with the Department of Communities and Local Government if a borrowing application is made. The Council is obliged to respect your confidentiality and will only hold this information for as long as necessary.

Do you agree with the principles above and do you believe that Skegness Town Council should determine the future of the site on behalf of the community? Or, should the fate of the Tower Pavilion be left in the hands of East Lindsey District Council? Please let us know by completing the form below. Alternatively, the form can printed and returned to Skegness Town Council, Town Hall, North Parade, Skegness. PE25 1DA

6. Responses

The Council promises to give responses to some of your comments each week.

This consultation closed at 4pm on Tuesday 28th November 2017.

The results will be collated and discussed at the next Council meeting on Wednesday 6th December 2017.

Thank you for everyone who took the time to respond.