The Council had received a request from a local charitable organisation to help facilitate the creation of an artificial reef, by the sinking of a vessel either within the jurisdiction of, or off, Tor Bay Harbour limits, which involved agreeing to take a lease of the seabed from the Crown Estate and then granting a sub-lease to a charitable organisation.  The proposal was expected to lead to economic benefits for Torbay particularly in the tourism sector.

Members noted that the organisation had submitted its own bid to purchase the ‘Ark Royal’ a decommissioned aircraft carrier from the Ministry of Defence.

The Mayor supported the recommendation of the Council as set out in his decision above.