Decision details

Reopening of South Park Café to be operated by the Council through the catering team based at the Dolphin Centre

Decision Maker: Assistant Director Community Services

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Prior to the current pandemic and a number of lockdowns, the café within South Park was operated by a private company, Richmondshire Leisure Trust who issued a Notice to Quit at the end of September 2020.

Historically the café has been run either in-house by the Council or outsourced to the private sector.

The catering operation at the Dolphin Centre and the Café in the Collaboration Space are successful business units, and South Park Café will be managed and operated by the in-house catering team. When the Council has previously operated the café, it has returned a small surplus. Income and expenditure will be monitored closely and a review of the decision to operate the café in-house will be taken in a year’s time.

Decision:

That South Park Café be operated in-house to enable the café to open as we come out of lockdown, providing a popular service to park users.


Alternative options considered:

The café has been operated by external organisations on two previous occasions and both have terminated the agreement with the Council. A number of individuals have enquired about running the café, however, it is believed at this time, as we start to come out of the pandemic, it is more appropriate for the Council to operate the café.

Publication date: 19/03/2021

Date of decision: 01/03/2021