Agenda item

Report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services.

The Cabinet Member with Local Services Portfolio introduced the report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services (previously circulated) presenting to Members the Master Plan (also previously circulated) and proposals for Darlington Rail Heritage Quarter and requesting that consideration be given to progressing further development work to finalise the scheme in the next twelve months.

The submitted report stated that over the past year, officers had been working closely with colleagues in the Combined Authority to develop a Master Plan for the Head of Steam site, which currently had a working title of ‘Darlington Rail Heritage Quarter’ (DRHQ); the site was part of the wider Stockton and Darlington Rail Heritage programme and part of the Heritage Action Zone; the intention of the Master Plan was to develop DRHQ into an international visitor attraction and museum before 2025 to enable Darlington to be a central part of the Bicentenary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway; the key elements of the Master Plan would be phased and delivered prior to 2025; and that working closely with partners and key stakeholders, the Master Plan would be refined over the next twelve months.

Representations were made at the meeting, by representatives of the Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS) and Friends of Darlington Railway Museum, in respect of the proposals.

The representatives from DRPS stated that although they were broadly in support of the proposals they had concerns in respect of the timescales involved in relocating to an alternative property; stated that the goods shed had been in a poor state of repair for many years; no alternative property/site had been identified; raised concerns that there would not be a place for them to come back to following the redevelopment work; and the plans for the current railway line on the site.  The Chair of the Friends of Darlington Railway Museum welcomed the proposals and ambition for the site, and stated that the Friends wanted to see the museum grow; highlighted the importance of connectivity to other museums such as Locomotion in Shildon and the National Railway Museum in York; the need for signposting from the town centre and the Crown Street Library to the Railway Museum; and highlighted a number of reservations in respect of the financial sustainability of the site.  The Leader and the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services responded thereon.

RESOLVED - (a)  That the £20million allocation from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, be released, subject to the final business case being approved by the Tess Valley Combined Authority (TVCA)

(b)  That a funding agreement for the TVCA funding, be entered into under the current delegated approval to the Assistant Director Resources in the Scheme of Delegation.

(c)  That the phased approach to delivery, as detailed in the submitted report, be approved, and changes to the approach be delegated to the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services who will liaise as necessary with the Portfolio Holder.

(d)  That the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be given delegated authority to negotiate and agree terms for the acquisition of the properties, as mentioned in the submitted report, and, if required, additional properties with an individual value of up to £1m with terms being reported to future Cabinet meetings on the Schedule of Transactions.

(e)  That the Assistant Director Law and Governance be authorised to document the acquisition of properties accordingly.

(f)  That the procurement be approved as strategic with the procurement route being delegated to the Council Procurement Board chaired by the Managing Director, and further updates returned to Members in the Procurement Annual Plan report.

(g)  That officers work with representatives of the Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS) to relocate to a suitable location to enable the priority works to the Goods Shed to be carried out with a view to returning to DRHQ once the whole site was refurbished.

(h)  That once reopened, entry to the Museum be free with a paid for immersive experience.

REASONS - (a)  To enable Darlington Rail Heritage Quarter to move forward and be further developed with future reports coming to Cabinet.

(b)  To carry out essential works to the Goods Shed as a priority to secure the stability and arrest the decline of the building.