Add your comments
News RSS feedNews
4 Jan 08Scrutiny Committee: Solar Pyramid Proposal
Borough of Poole's Call-in Scrutiny Committee last night met to consider the decision to invest £25,000 of Council funds in evaluating a potential tourist attraction for the town.
The committee considered a 'call-in' of a decision made by Cabinet to support the exploration of Poole hosting a large scale tourist attraction and to authorise officers to undertake the first phase of assessment work - initiated by a proposal called the Solar Pyramid.
Having heard submissions from Councillors, officers and members of the public, the committee made the following recommendations:
- the decision made by Cabinet on November 6, 2007, be referred to Council for consideration by all elected members.
- no expenditure be incurred under the above decision pending consideration by Council.
- aspects of the Council's Constitution relating to reports from scrutiny committees be referred to the Constitution Review Working Party.
After the meeting Cllr Brian Leverett, Leader of the Council, said: "The Cabinet will give serious consideration to the recommendations made by members of the Call-in Scrutiny Committee. I consider the Council has a duty to look at significant proposals that could help support Poole's economic well-being and create new business opportunities, especially when local businesses ask us to do so and offer their support.
"The tourism industry in Poole supports about 4,800 jobs and generates £200 million for the local economy. One of the Council's stated ambitions is to work with public and private sector partners to release more of the town's economic potential - and a major tourist attraction could help achieve this ambition.
"We have never said that the Solar Pyramid is right for Poole and no site for any tourist attraction has been decided. The resources that Cabinet agreed to allocate for assessment of the proposal represent a small percentage of the funds which the Council attracts from the Government to support the town's economy. At this early stage in the evaluation process the Council has not commissioned any assessment work in relation to this proposal."
Cllr Leverett addressed the Committee but as a member who took part in the Cabinet's decision was not permitted to remain in the room while the matter was discussed under the National Code of Conduct for Councillors and the Council's own Constitution.
Directgov