Elected Member Briefing Note 2023, Issue 69
About this briefing note
Report by: David Littlejohn, Head of Planning and Development
Date: 26 June 2023
Subject: Perth Harbour
Responsible Officer: Serge Merone, Climate Change and Smart Investment Manager
Details
Purpose
The note provides you with an update on the implementation of the decision made by the Council at its meeting on 8 February 2023. The Council agreed Option 5 as the preferred option for Perth Harbour future.
Option 5 would see the cessation of Council's involvement and obligations to manage the harbour as a commercial port ceasing commercial traffic and to support regeneration. Given that the legal process to officially close the harbour to commercial traffic would take a period of time and would be subject to formal consultation requirements, the Council instructed officers to test the market for interest in a potential long lease opportunity. If there was such an interest, a further paper could be brought back to the Council for consideration.
Briefing Information
Informal marketing was undertaken from 8 February 2023 providing information to possible interested parties. The formal marketing process started on 16 May 2023 via our commercial agent. Interested parties had access to a data room where relevant information was made available. A closing date was set on 12 June 2023 for expression of interest. One expression of interest was received by the deadline.
The expression of interest was assessed in line with Statutory Harbour Authority and Competent Harbour Authority requirements, financial standing requirements and commercial requirements. The bidder commercial offering included specific conditions which were not included in the particulars issued by the Council making the expression of interest non-compliant. As it was the only offer, an opportunity has been given to the bidder to make the expression of interest compliant by 30 June 2023.
If the expression of interest become compliant, it could be re-assessed against the requirements as stated in the particulars, and in line with Council's decision a further paper could be brought back to the Council for consideration.
If the expression of interest remains non-compliant, the expression of interest would be rejected, and Option 5 would be taken forward in line with Council's decision. This would imply a formal consultation to apply to Scottish Ministers for a Harbour Revision Order and the development of a plan for future use of the harbour focusing on leisure and regeneration.
The contract with Calmac, the current harbour operator, has been extended to 31 August 2023.
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