Issue - meetings

Report CSD16084

Members considered possible options put forward by the Beckenham Town Centre Working Group (BTCWG) in relation to the provision of a Memorial to David Bowie.

Councillor Tickner briefly outlined the discussions which took place at the Working Group meetings.  Various options put forward included a design mural on the side wall of ‘Patrick’s Place’ which the owners were keen to have at an estimated cost of £3k; a sculpture with an estimated cost of between £20-50k; or perhaps a ‘Stardust’ motif for the pavement outside the Three Tuns pub (now Zizzi’s).  It was suggested that the renovated bandstand in Croydon Recreation Ground be renamed ‘The David Bowie Stand’.  Renovation of the bandstand would cost in the region of £150k and would be part-funded by the ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme with a planned concert to raise extra money.

Members considered a memorial should be in place before the first anniversary of David Bowie’s death and agreed in principle that the idea for a wall mural and a statue in Croydon Recreation Ground near the bandstand, be taken forward by the Working Group with full details of a scheme being submitted for consideration by PDS Members when finalised. 

An application for S106 funding for the project would need to go through the legal process.  It was also noted that someone involved in the renovation of the bandstand had volunteered to undertake public fund-raising.  Officers agreed to find out if S106 funding would be available and report this to Members.  The possibility of a contribution from Community Fund money was also suggested.

RESOLVED that the BTCWG continue to consider the ideas put forward for a memorial together with options for priority crowd-funding.  Finalised details of the scheme should be submitted to a future meeting of the PDS Committee.