Purpose

To request that public and stakeholder engagement can be undertaken to support the development of Ambition Arnold’s RIBA Stage 02 plans for a new arts centre (including a theatre) leisure centre and library for Arnold North.

Reasons for the decision

To seek approval to undertake public and stakeholder consultation to inform the development of Ambition Arnold’s RIBA Stage 02 plans for Arnold North.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing
The Council has the option of not undertaking consultation to inform the development of Ambition Arnold’s RIBA Stage 02 plans for Arnold North. However, this option has been rejected on the basis that the Council has a statutory obligation to undertake a consultation. Under section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 (‘the 1999 Act’) there is a requirement for the Council to secure continuous improvement in the way its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness (known as the ‘best value duty’). In order to decide how best to fulfil the best value duty, the Council has an obligation under section 3(2) of the 1999 Act to consult representatives of persons who use or are likely to use the services provided.
Furthermore, given that the Council undertook a consultation exercise in relation to the visionary masterplan it could be suggested that this established an expectation, and therefore an implied duty, to consult further, once more detail was added to this masterplan.