Purpose

To seek approval from this Committee to
proceed with a marketing exercise to seek licence offers for the
children’s rides.

Content

10.1

The Committee
considered a report of the Executive Director of Neighbourhood
Services which asked for approval of the commencement of a
marketing exercise to select a new children’s rides operator
within Hillsborough
Park.

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the Charity Trustee Sub-Committee:
-

(a) 
Notes the contents of?the
report;

(b) 
Agrees that approving the commencement of a marketing exercise for
a new children’s rides operator is in the best interest of
the Hillsborough Park Charity, and therefore approves the
commencement; and

(c) 
Notes that a further report will be brought to this Committee
following the marketing process, seeking approval to enter into new
licence agreements with the recommended operator effective from
29th April 2026.

 

 

 

 

10.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

10.3.1

The children’s rides within the park
contributes to the objects of the charity - “The provision
and maintenance of a public park and recreation ground in Sheffield
for the use of members of the public resorting thereto with the
object of improving their conditions of life” - providing
amenities within recreation/pleasure grounds for use by the public.
It has also become an expected part of visitor’s park
experience.

 

 

10.3.2

Generating an income allows the Council as sole
trustee to support the management and maintenance of the park and
in turn contribute to the charity objects. Offering this prospect
to the market allows the Charity the opportunity to assess what
offer and income might be available to
it.

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

Alternative Option 1 – Do
nothing
Reasons for Rejection: There is the option to not
market the facility and allow the current licence to end on the 28
April 2026. This would mean there would be no provision for this
type of offer within the park, reducing the options for recreation
for children and negatively impacting the rental income for the
charity. This income contributes directly to the charity’s
object for ‘the provision and maintenance of a public park
and recreation ground in Sheffield’. A reduction in income
would therefore compromise the quality of the recreational offer,
visitor experience and the overall upkeep of the park. For these
reasons, this option has been
rejected.

 

 

10.4.2

Alternative Option 2 – Not to market and
the Charity to provide same or similar
services
Reasons for Rejection:  An alternative option would be for the Charity to
operate the facility directly rather than marketing it to a
third-party operator. This approach would require the Charity to
invest in its own equipment and cover ongoing costs including (but
not limited to) staffing, insurance, and maintenance. Due to the
substantial upfront costs and operational demands, this option was
not considered to be in the best interest of the
Charity.