<\/p>\n
Extending the stay on closure for a further 2 months, the Council will now spend additional monies making more revisions to its business case, which has been subject to on-going negotiations with the DoE since it was first submitted in January.<\/p>\n
The Council also responded positively to a further requirement that it give at least a 5 year commitment to the aquarium and, as requested by the DoE, will seek the support of the North Down and Ards Statutory Committee (STC) for the same condition.<\/p>\n
The Council\u2019s business case proposals centre on reducing the deficit to what it believes to be an acceptable level \u2013 from around \u00a3500,000 each year to \u00a3200,000.<\/p>\n
However, the reduced running costs are only possible with a commitment from central government to include revenue for the Seal Sanctuary from the Department of the Environment, together with a substantial one-off capital grant of approximately \u00a3900,000.<\/p>\n
The Council will submit a final version of the business case and plan to DoE next week for consideration by the Executive in April.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.ards-council.gov.uk\/News\/Latest-News\/Council-Agrees-DoE-Conditions-For-Exploris<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Council Agrees DoE Conditions For Exploris WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 Ards Borough Council has tonight (26 March) agreed to meet a series of additional conditions from the Department of the Environment to ensure a funding package for Exploris can … Continue reading