Nottingham City Council has made a significant decision to award the Woodthorpe Park Plant Nursery Catering Concession contract to Homemade Cafe Pavilion Ltd.
The contract, valued at up to £730,000, will span a period of five years.
The Decision
The decision was made to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Communities, Environment and Resident Services to award the contract. The move comes as part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to enhance the visitor experience at Woodthorpe Park and generate increased income.
Donna Cresswell-Duly, Business Development Manager at Nottingham City Council, stated that the contract aims to provide a consistent catering service that would attract more visitors to the park’s range of activities and educational events.
Why This Decision?
The Woodthorpe Park Plant Nursery Retail Service has been operational since 2015. Over the years, various operators have provided pop-up catering services. The Council believes that appointing a single catering concession would offer a more consistent service, thereby improving the park visitor experience and increasing revenue.
Other Options Considered
The Council also considered other options such as on-site catering with no concession lease and direct delivery, but these were not supported for various reasons including income generation and visitor expectations.
Financial Implications
The contract includes annual minimum guaranteed payments and fees based on a percentage of turnover. All costs associated with the mobile cafe vehicle and seating will be met by the Concession Operator. The Council has also considered the financial risks involved, particularly if the turnover falls short of projections.
Legal and Procurement Advice
Legal advice was sought to protect the Council’s proprietary interests, and the procurement process complied with the Contract Procedure Rules. Property advice was also provided to ensure no security of tenure and to update insurance once approvals are in place.
Social and Community Impact
The decision is expected to make a material contribution to reducing crime and disorder within the city’s neighborhoods by maintaining well-used and maintained places for residents to visit.
Conclusion
The decision marks a significant step in enhancing the Woodthorpe Park visitor experience while also aiming to generate increased revenue for the Council. The contract is subject to call-in until September 14, 2023.
