Dreamland sale scrutiny meeting to be held at Thanet District Council next week
16:40, 08 August 2019
updated: 16:47, 08 August 2019
A special meeting to review the council's decision to sell Dreamland will take place next week.
The overview and scrutiny panel at Thanet District Council (TDC) will sit on Thursday to examine the decision after opposition councillors called in the proposals.
Cabinet members have already approved the sale to Sands Heritage Limited (SHL), which currently operate the Margate amusement park, following a meeting last week.
It was hoped the deal could be completed this week but the call in has put the brakes on the process.
Councillors want to evaluate the proposals prevent a "Del Boy deal" to make sure it is fair for Thanet taxpayers.
But the authority insists the decision to sell the freehold has been "a measured one" and has taken "many months of consideration".
The sale includes a covenant preventing development on the site for 10 years and planning restrictions to ensure the site is retained for leisure use, which was agreed by the cabinet on August 1.
Heritage assets within the park - such as the scenic railway - which are Grade II listed will retain their listed status and place obligations on the new owners to ensure they are maintained appropriately.
'This approach is all about achieving best value for the site and the residents of Thanet,' Cllr Bob Bayford
Cllr Bob Bayford (Con), leader of TDC, said: "As a council, following a widespread community campaign, we stepped in to protect Dreamland when it was a neglected site, falling into disrepair.
"This bold decision was necessary to secure its future at that time. We see the decision to now look at selling the freehold as the right one if we want to see Dreamland reach its full potential.
"Dreamland has been in public hands for just six of its 99 year history. We can be very proud of our intervention in what was a private sector failure and the turnaround that has been achieved.
"The purpose of the CPO has now been fulfilled. Under SHL, Dreamland has made a great contribution to a revitalised Margate and this is an opportunity to see it go from strength to strength.
"This approach is all about achieving best value for the site and the residents of Thanet who are rightly, very proud of Dreamland and the contribution it makes to our visitor economy.”
The sale will only go ahead if external funders agree to remove their grant contributions which the council is currently responsible for.
An independent valuation needs to take place to make sure "best value is achieved" for taxpayers, the council says.
A statement said: "The full Cabinet report was published in advance in line with due process. Call in by the overview and scrutiny panel is another part of that process and will give members further opportunity to examine the proposed plans."
