Deed of Variation to Lease for Riviera International Conference Centre

Description

On 25 July 2019 Torbay Council awarded a lease for the operation of the Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC) to Parkwood Leisure Ltd, with the intention that Parkwood Leisure Ltd would take over operation of the RICC on 01 April 2020. In March 2020, the Council and Parkwood Leisure Ltd had a completed lease in readiness for signing ahead of the 1st April 2020; setting out all the commercial terms along with the capital investment to be delivered in 2020 and 2021. Due to restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic the RICC was closed and signing of the lease was deferred until such time as it could be agreed by both parties that Parkwood Leisure Ltd could take over its operation. The Council and Parkwood Leisure Limited have agreed that the originally proposed twenty five year lease will go ahead from 01 April 2021 and this will remain the basis for the medium to long term future of this partnership. However, in order to capture and address the impact of Covid-19 the Council intends to enter into a short term deed of variation with Parkwood Leisure Ltd, subject to approval through the Council budget setting process. This deed of variation will cover a financial support package that will be in place for the first twenty four months of the lease, which will be capped at approximately £830,000. This funding is being provided to enable Parkwood Leisure Ltd to move the RICC from the deficit position that has been created during the pandemic, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and viability of the business. It is expected that the support package will be made through the payment of a fixed fee quarterly in advance.