Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

This report was considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 12 April 2021.

The Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) presented the report on the Refurbishment of the Dover Discovery Centre.

Members were advised that the opportunity had arisen in conjunction with Kent County Council’s (KCC) £7.45 million investment plans for the refurbishment of the Discovery Centre to undertake works to support the Dover Museum. The project would require an investment of £700,000 from the Council.  The cost of the construction work had been determined proportionately based on the respective areas of the building.

The Museum and the Discovery Centre shared some mechanical and electrical services, which were common to both buildings and the internal property arrangements had seen elements of the building leased to the Council and KCC.  As the Discovery Centre and the Museum were interlinked, the KCC proposals provided an opportunity to incorporate proposals within the design for a walk-in archive facility and education room within the DDC owned area and the co-location of the DDC and KCC local studies archive within a single space.

In response to a question about whether it would be better to demolish the building and start again, it was stated that this would be extremely costly due to the archaeology underneath, some of which was viewable in the building.

It was moved by Councillor C D Zosseder, duly seconded by Councillor S H Beer, and

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended to Cabinet that decision CAB 107 be endorsed as follows:

(a)  That the proposed investment by Kent County Council in the refurbishment of the Dover Discovery Centre be noted and welcomed.

(b)  That the proposal to include a walk-in archive facility and education room within the Dover District Council-owned area as part of the project be approved.

(c)   That the allocation of £700,000 from the Capital Programme to support the delivery of the project be approved.

(d)  That the Council enters into an agreement with Kent County Council to contribute the sum of £550,000 towards the cost of delivering the project.

(e)  That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Corporate Property, to finalise agreements and the associated decisions involved in delivering the project.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment and Corporate Property

It was agreed:

(a)   That the proposed investment by Kent County Council in the refurbishment of the Dover Discovery Centre be noted and welcomed.

(b)   That the proposal to include a walk-in archive facility and education room within the Dover District Council-owned area as part of the project be approved.

(c)   That the allocation of £700,000 from the Capital Programme to support the delivery of the project be approved.

(d)   That the Council enters into an agreement with Kent County Council to contribute the sum of £550,000 towards the cost of delivering the project.

(e)   That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Corporate Property, to finalise agreements and the associated decisions involved in delivering the project.