Agenda item

The Committee received a report concerning proposed future operations of Dunwood Park. Dunwood Park was a mixed formal and informal park situated at Woodend in the Beal Valley in Shaw; and ran along the side of the Metrolink line.  The park was originally opened on 14^th September 1914 but had been transformed in 2011/2012 by a grant of over £1 million of Heritage Lottery Funding, and supporting Council funds, which completely renovated the facilities.

The park was effectively separated into two parts; the larger, northern section of the park was formed by a long strip of land leading to the Jubilee area on the edge of the Borough; and was largely wooded. The southern element is a formal park providing a children’s play area, bowling green and pavilion, tennis courts/multi-use game court, growing hub, formal gardens with public art and a meeting room with public conveniences building. The meeting room building has been named The McGrother Building after Michael McGrother, the former Chair of the Friends of Dunwood Park who died as the park was being renovated. It is a relatively recently constructed community meeting room/public convenience building of traditional brick construction with a multi-pitched tile roof and is approximately 96 m². Of this 96 m² approximately 40 m² is occupied by the public conveniences and approximately 56 m² by the cafe.

The McGrother Building has been let for the last few years as a café. However, the current tenant has given notice to terminate the lease and their occupation will end on 21^st July 2022.

The café is an important facility for the park and the surrounding community. Shaw and Crompton Ward Councillors were keen to ensure that the café service continues to be provided continuously through the summer and beyond.  Several parties have expressed an interest in leasing the premises and therefore because of the tight deadline to secure a new tenant for July 2022 Unity Partnership (UPL) had started a marketing exercise, including preparing letting particulars, adverting the café on the UPL website and erecting a “To Let board” at the property. Rental offers were sought for the building with some use of a forecourt area based on:

A.   a 3-year lease, “contracted out” of the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

B.   the tenant being responsible for internal repair and decoration.

C.   the tenant to be responsible for business rates and utility charges.

D.   the tenant making the toilets available for public use, every day, and be responsible for their cleaning.

E.   the tenant shall not make any structural alterations to the premises.

F.    to be used as a café, with possible community use.

G.   the landlord will ensure the building is appropriately insured and carry out repairs and decorations to the exterior.

The property was currently let at £5,000 per annum, but with rising occupational costs it is optimistic to think that this can be achieve this now through this letting process.  All applicants would be asked to give a rental offer, demonstrate their experience, business plan, community benefit and conditions attached to enable an assessment of each application and assess which potential occupier will provide the best café operation and best enhance the park and surrounding area.

Resolved:

1.    That Charitable Trust Committee, in respect of this matter grants authority for appropriate staff within Unity Partnership and the Council’s Estates Service to continue with the marketing of the café and in consultation with Shaw and Crompton Ward Members to proceed with the selection of the most suitable tenant for the café and to negotiate and complete a lease by July 2022.

2.    That the Committee delegate authority to the Director of Legal Services to determine this matter.