Meeting: Cabinet	Date: 10th January 2023

Wards affected: Tormohun

Report Title: Award of licence for observation wheel

When does the decision need to be implemented? January 2023

Cabinet Member Contact Details: Mike Morey

Director/Divisional Director Contact Details: Alan Denby

1.	Purpose of Report

1.1	The Observation Wheel, hosted annually in Torquay, comes to the end of its current licence in October 2023. The opportunity has therefore been re-procured through a tender process for the 2024 season for 5 years with the option to extend for up to a further 3 years in 12 month increments. The new licence, if agreed, will be for a 45m wheel. We require agreement to offer a license for this site and a contract will be awarded, following the procurement process.

1.2	The supplier to be awarded the tender will pay an annual licence fee to occupy the site from March to September annually. They will also complete a heritage gain assessment and contribute funding towards related works in Princess Gardens as part of their Planning permission to allow the wheel to be placed in this conservation area. This funding will support the upkeep of key heritage elements Princess Gardens such as the war memorial.

1.3	The outcome will be to provide an improved attraction as a focal point in Torbay, which is popular with residents and visitors, and to generate an income which ensures heritage assets in the Princess Gardens conservation area are maintained.

2.	Reason for Proposal and its benefits

2.1	The proposals in this report help us to deliver the ambitions of Torbay and its residents to thrive and towards being the premier resort in the UK. The supplier will provide affordable tickets to Cared for Children and their Carers. The wheel will also include a minimum of one accessible carriage. The wheel will support Torbay as a nicer, more attractive place to live and work and will support the local economy through tourism and secondary spend. The implementation of the wheel also supports the Events Strategy and the Destination Management Plan.

3.	Recommendation(s) / Proposed Decision

1.	That the licence to occupy the site, edged red on the site plan set out in Appendix 1, will be awarded to the preferred bidder as set out in exempt appendix 2.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Site Plan

Appendix 2: Exempt - Preferred Contractor and Tender Details

Background Documents

Events Strategy https://www.torbay.gov.uk/DemocraticServices/documents/s112539/Events%20Strategy%20Appendix.pdf

Destination Management Plan https://www.torbay.gov.uk/DemocraticServices/documents/s127904/Destination%20Management%20Plan-22-27%20final%20consultation%20draft.pdf

Supporting Information

1.	Introduction

1.1	The licence for the current observation wheel will conclude in October 2023. To ensure continuity of this important attraction within the Bay, the licence award is proposed for 4 January 2023 with mobilisation between 17 January and 31st October 2023 to allow the successful supplier to undertaken planning and write management plans, gain planning permission and ensure all infrastructure is ready. The licence will formally start in November 2023 with the new wheel being on site from 1 March 2024.

1.2	The supplier who is awarded the licence, will pay an annual license fee to occupy the site from March to September annually.

1.3	The awarding of this licence offers the benefit of an improved attraction, the annual income from the Licence to Occupy fee and, following a heritage gain assessment, the supplier will financially contribute to support the upkeep of heritage assets in Princess Gardens.

2.	Options under consideration

2.1	The events team did consider not re-procuring an Observation Wheel at the end of the current contract however it is a popular attraction for visitors and residents and generates income for Torbay Council and funds the upkeep of heritage assets in Princess Gardens so the decision was made to procure this wheel.

3.	Financial Opportunities and Implications

3.1	There is no cost to the council to procure the observation wheel. The supplier will pay a Licence to Occupy fee, will cover reinstatement for any damage caused to the site in the set up and dismantling of the wheel and the funding for the Heritage Gain Assessment. The income generated is highlighted in Appendix 2.

4.	Legal Implications

4.1	The supplier will need to sign the Site Occupation Licence as provided by our legal team. They will require planning permission, to be gained separately at their own cost. They will be required to operate the Observation Wheel in line with all relevant Health and Safety and employment and other applicable legislation.

5.	Engagement and Consultation

5.1	We have not undertaken any consultation with regards to this contract, the wheel remains a popular attraction which generates a good level of ticket sales without complaint.

6.	Purchasing or Hiring of Goods and/or Services

6.1	This licence has been procured through the procurement system and has included Social Value within this. Details on the procurement and social value are included in their tender response..

7.	Tackling Climate Change

7.1	As part of the tender process the supplier has been asked to provide details of their support of the ambition to be a carbon neutral community, detailed in their tender response.

7.2	It is anticipated that the observation wheel will be powered by electricity and will have up to date LED lighting.

8.	Associated Risks

8.1	If the Licence to Occupy is not agreed we will be unable to have an Observation Wheel and its associated benefit to the community and income generation for Torbay Council.

8.2	A full procurement process has been undertaken for this so there is no risk associated with the procurement of this service.

9.	Equality Impacts - Identify the potential positive and negative impacts on specific groups

Positive Impact	Negative Impact & Mitigating Actions	Neutral Impact
Older or younger people	Accessible carriage available
People with caring Responsibilities	Attraction to visit, Cared for Children tickets at a reduced fee.
People with a disability	Accessible carriage available
Women or men	No impact
People who are black or from a minority ethnic background (BME) (Please note Gypsies / Roma are within this community)	No Impact
Religion or belief (including lack of belief)	No Impact
People who are lesbian, gay or bisexual	No Impact
People who are transgendered	No Impact
People who are in a marriage or civil partnership	No Impact
Women who are pregnant / on maternity leave	No Impact
Socio-economic impacts (Including impact on child poverty issues and deprivation)	No Impact
Public Health impacts (How will your proposal impact on the general health of the population of Torbay)	No Impact

10.	Cumulative Council Impact

10.1	None

11.	Cumulative Community Impacts

11.1	None