The report sets out a proposed investment programme for the Leisure estate, based on the objectives of the Leisure Strategy, the condition of each facility and an assessment of the subsequent financial viability of the estate.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

The exempt appendices were noted.

In respect of Recommendations 2, 6 and 7 the Mayor agreed for officers to undertake a ‘desktop review’ (simultaneously with preparation works being undertaken) to consider the value for money of any representations made by 25 March to refurbish as opposed to rebuild the St George’s Leisure Centre. A briefing on this work would be presented to the Mayor who will provide an update to a summer Cabinet meeting on whether an alternative course of action was now being considered.

DECISION

1.    To agree that officers further develop a ten-year detailed investment plan, as part of an overarching 30-year rolling programme for the whole Leisure estate based on the model set out in this report, to be brought back to Cabinet in summer 2022.

2.    Subject to approving the Council’s 2022-23 Budget Report and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022-25, which contains a request for £25.163m of capital funding for this project over the next three financial years, agree to the building of a new leisure centre on the St George’s Leisure Centre site at a total cost of c. £35m.

3.    To approve further work to investigate options for investing in the leisure facilities on the John Orwell Sports Centre site.

4.    Subject to approving the Council’s 2022-23 Budget Report and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2022-25, which contains a request for £3m of capital funding for these works, agree to address the existing condition needs of the rest of the leisure estate in the financial years 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.

5.    Subject to agreement of the need to develop a ten-year detailed investment plan, authorise the establishment of a programme team with external consultancy support to oversee the development of the investment plan through to Cabinet approval in c. July 2022, in line with the resource schedule in Appendix 1 to the report, with a funding requirement of c. £130,000 for external support. This is included in the £25.163m referred to in recommendation 2 above.

6.    Subject to approving the Council’s 2022-23 Budget Report and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022-25, to allocate funding to build a new leisure centre, authorise the procurement of an architect and multi-disciplinary design team to take the design and construction of a new build proposal through to RIBA Stage 4 and gain planning permission, in line with the resource schedule in Appendix 1 to the report, with a funding requirement of c. £1.3m for that phase, as set out in the capital budget report being considered separately at this Cabinet meeting. This is included in the £25.163m referred to in recommendation 2 above.

7.    To authorise the Corporate Director Children and Culture to instruct the execution of any necessary documentation and agreements required to give effect to recommendation 6 following an appropriate procurement process

8.    To note the Equalities Impact Assessment set out in Paragraph 4.1 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

(Director, Commissioning and Culture, Children’s Services (J. St John)

(Interim Leisure Programme Director (M. Coleman)