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RESOLVED:
 
That Cabinet
Procurement Insourcing Committee approve:
 
The award of a concessions contract and a
lease (relating to the operation of a concession at the
Clissold House Cafe and the occupation
of such premises) to Operator A for a period, in each case, of 5
years (with an option exerciseable by
the Council to extend the term by a further 2 years), with the
contract commencing in February 2025.

Note that a Low Risk Business Case requesting
approval to carry out the procurement process was signed by the
Director of Environment and Climate Change on 11 June 2024.
 
Reason(s) For
Decision / Options Appraisal
 
One of Hackney's best loved parks,
Clissold Park was opened in 1889
and  has held a Green Flag award
since 2006. Green Flags are awarded annually to the best green
spaces in the country. Clissold Park
and House were renovated in 2011 as part of an £8.9 million
Heritage Lottery Fund restoration project. Clissold House ?is a Grade II* listed building in
the middle of Clissold Park that hosts
community bookings, weddings, meetings and parties.
 
The cafe was previously operated by Deep Beat
Entertainment who went into administration and ceased operating in
Spring 2024. When operating, the cafe is open to the public seven
days a week (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) from at least
8.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. As well as being a popular destination for
park users, the cafe contributes income to the Parks and Green
Spaces Service, helping to pay for the maintenance of Clissold Park and other green spaces across
Hackney.
 
The contract with the current service provider
ended in November 2024, and a new operator is required to run the
cafe from February 2025 for a period of five years, with the
potential to extend for two years.
 
Alternative Options
(Considered and Rejected)

As part of the Business Case approved prior to
the procurement process, the following options were considered:
 
In-sourcing the catering provision was deemed
to be unfeasible for this service. An in-sourcing report has been
appended to this report in Exempt Appendix 3.
 
Do nothing – the previous caterer has
gone into administration and is no longer operating in Clissold House. This is therefore not an
option.