Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council
Executive Member - Recreation & Heritage Item 10
20 November 2003
Gosport Discovery Centre
Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
Contact: Chris Edwards Tel: 01962 826703
1. Summary
1.1 The following decision is sought:
That the preparatory work for Gosport Discovery Centre be approved.
2. Reason
2.1 In order that the project can keep to the proposed timetable and enable the new Discovery Centre to open in March 2005.
3. Other options considered and rejected
None
4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted
4.1 None
5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee
5.1 Not applicable
6. Reason for the matter being dealt with if urgent
Not applicable
Approved by: (signature) Date: (date of decision)
.................................
Councillor J Waddington
Hampshire County Council
Executive Member - Recreation & Heritage Item 10
20 November 2003
Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item 9
13 November 2003
Gosport Discovery Centre
Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
Contact: Chris Edwards, 01962 826703
1. Introduction
1.1 The Cabinet, at their meeting on 23 June 2003 agreed to support the development of Gosport Discovery Centre and were informed that the project was likely to cost £2 million. Provision was made in the Capital Programme alongside funding for the Winchester Cultural Centre.
1.2 This followed the presentation to The Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee on 22 May 2003 at which members also supported the Scheme.
2. The Current Position
2.1 Work has continued on developing the scheme and a full project appraisal/feasibility study will be ready for consideration by both the Recreation and Heritage, and Policy and Resources Policy Review Committees and Executive Member Decision Days in the January/February 2004 cycle of meetings.
2.2 However, the intention is that the new Discovery Centre, which will be based on the current library and museum buildings in Gosport, will open in March 2005, so publicity about the closure of the library and the planning and implementation of the move to temporary alternative primes needs to be put in place now, ahead of the project appraisal/feasibility study.
2.3 The building works timetable is very tight and any delay in making the empty building available to the contractor will delay the opening date. The proposed timetable for the work is as follows.
October/November - consultation and start publicity
November - Submit planning application for temporary premises
December - finalise plans for temporary service
January/February -commence closure andrelocation of service
March 04/Jan05 - contractor on site
Jan 05/March 05 - refit premises
March 05 - reopen as Discovery Centre
2.4 In order to meet this timetable, the existing library will have to close in February 2004 and preparations are in hand for this now, including establishing a temporary alternative service, albeit on a much smaller scale. Despite extensive research, it is unlikely that substantial alternative premises will be available locally at a reasonable cost so the main focus of planning is at the moment is on using the Gosport Gallery, attached to the Museum, possibly supplemented by other temporary buildings sited either in the museum car park, or elsewhere nearby. Plans are also in hand to enhance the services at other libraries in the area to maintain the best possible service in the circumstances.
2.5 In order to facilitate this, public consultation is taking place on the detail of the proposed scheme, and publicity about the project and the effect on the library service during the period of the works, needs to start now, and this obviously needs to be done before the full project appraisal is approved.
3. Recommendation
3.1 That the preparatory work for Gosport Discovery Centre be approved.
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