Agenda item

This report provides the Economy Committee with an update of the ongoing project to deliver 13 new beach huts at Littlehampton seafront.

          The Property, Estates and Facilities Manager advised members that since its meeting in November 2022, Officers had been working to deliver the project in line with the timeline set out by the Committee. He confirmed that planning consent was granted on 10 March 2023 following this, officers had been working to procure the manufacture and supply of the required beach huts. Since drafting the report, the council had reached out to local groups and charities, however interest had been low he confirmed that work would continue to be ongoing on this matter.

          The Chair then invited members to make any comments or statements where the following comments and points were raised, the update received was felt to be disappointing, over the 14-year timeframe set out in the report the revenue was expected to be £250 per Beach Hut, this did not show the council’s ability to generate revenue well. The figures reported in the appendix to the report were also queried. It was also commented that it was disappointing to hear that there had been a lack of interest seen from local groups and charities. Members then discussed in more detail the value of the beach huts and the area being truly accessible, clarity was sought regarding whether accessible equipment would be provided inside the beach huts, toilet facilities and accessible changing places. One member asked for clarity regarding what made these beach huts accessible, it was confirmed that they would have level access by ramped areas, and they would have larger doors and a larger footprint. There would be no equipment such as hoists inside of the beach huts, the council was currently in the process of installing 8/9 changing places toilets across the district of which 2 will be located just off the Littlehampton promenade. It was stated that it was cost effect to provide the equipment locations in this way but not in each individual beach hut. An explanation on the difference in costs between a standard beach hut and the accessible beach huts was requested where it was confirmed that the costs were dictated by the market.

          It was stated by several members that there was now concern that what was being provided was just a larger sized beach hut, which was not what members had in mind when the initial proposal was made to install accessible beach huts.  

          Before turning to the recommendation, it was proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Northeast that the wording of the recommendation should have the following words inserted (highlighted in bold),

‘That it delegates authority to the Group Head of Technical Services to let the three accessible huts to local charities or groups on the same terms as set out in paragraph 4.11.’

          This amendment was agreed and became the substantive recommendation this was then proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Northeast.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

That it delegates authority to the Group Head of Technical Services to let the three accessible huts to local charities or groups on the same terms as set out in paragraph 4.11.