Decision

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommended that Council agree an additional CIL allocation of £450K for the provision of a new café at King Georges Rec, and demolition of the existing cafe. 

Reasons for decision

Proposals for the new café have been considered by the Asset Management Panel. While the original consultation in 2024 showed residents and park users wanted to retain the café there was no consensus on location. A further smaller stakeholder consultation was carried out. From that exercise it was clear the option of demolishing the toilets and siting a new café and toilet block adjacent to the splash park was not welcomed. Options to site the café either near the car park or near the existing site were discussed with a preference to site near the existing café if possible. Officers had been through a detailed options appraisal with Quantity Surveyors. This made it clear that any build near the existing café would be prohibitively expensive because of the additional costs of works access, ground levelling and tree protection. Officers had considered reducing the size of the café to reduce cost but this was discounted as a smaller size would stop it being economically viable for the café operator. Based on the previous consultation the optimum and only practical option is to site the new cafe near to the car park. A design and build contract for the delivery of a new café will be awarded to deliver for summer 2027.

Alternative Options Considered

Do nothing. This has been discounted as the consultation exercise in 2024 was clear residents wanted a replacement café and the current one is beyond economically viable repair.