Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources which set out the historic, current and future financial performance of Beaumanor Hall and Park as one of the Council’s Traded Services.  Approval was also sought for the Director of Corporate Resources to be authorised to commence an engagement process to understand how the site might be enhanced in order to improve the financial performance, noting the current subsidy position and the potential impact on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).  Copies of the report and supplementary report, both marked ‘Agenda Item 6’, are filed with these minutes.

Miss. H. Butler CC reiterated that Beaumanor Hall was currently operating at a loss.  An engagement process was due to commence in August for a period of two months, and this would provide an opportunity to review the site and see what could be done differently to help shape its future. 

Mr. A. Tilbury CC agreed that the site was a historical asset for the Council and had a lot of potential to be successful.  Stakeholders and members of the public were encouraged to get involved in the engagement process.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the historic, current and future financial performance of Beaumanor Hall and Park be noted;

b)    That the comments from the Scrutiny Commission be noted;

c)    That the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised to commence an engagement process with stakeholders to establish options to improve the future financial performance of the site.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION

Beaumanor has always required a financial subsidy from the County Council.  If nothing changes, the long term outlook for the site does not suggest that this position will materially change.  It is therefore necessary to establish options to try to improve the financial performance of the site given growing pressure on the Council’s finances.

The Scrutiny Commission, at its meeting in March 2025, following consideration of an exempt report on the performance of Beaumanor, requested its concerns regarding the future financial performance of Beaumanor be considered by the Cabinet.

An engagement process will allow the Council to work with the market, local community and schools to determine the right approach to remove the cost to the County Council and improve its financial performance to better support the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.