Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received the report advising Members of provisional representations from the City of London Bowling Club (CoLBC) regarding a possible return to Finsbury Circus. The Bowling Club wishes to present business proposals to the City Corporation setting out details for its more efficient use of a reinstated facility and a maintenance regime, and is seeking reconsideration of your Committee’s previous decisions not to reinstate a specialist sporting surface. The Bowling Club has been invited to do make written representations by the 15 October, with the intention of presenting these to your meeting on 5 December 2016, together with officer views and recommendations.

In consultation with the Deputy Chairman and Director of Open Spaces, and

having taken advice from the Town Clerk’s and City Solicitor’s departments, the

Chairman has agreed to consider a written submission from the CoLBC at this

Committee’s December meeting.CoLBC have been invited to submit a proposal of up to three sides of A4 paper for consideration in advance of the meeting. This submission should set out the Club’s business case for running the facility, should state the currently active membership of the Club, and its activities since the closure of Finsbury Circus six years ago. The submission deadline agreed with the Club is 15 October 2016.

Members of the Committee were in agreement that the submission from the CoLBC should include a clear business case, their financial plan and the number of active users of the club. The Committee also requested that the report include all background papers relating to the Finsbury Circus reinstatement.

Resolved – that the update be received.