DECISION

1.    To confirm the building of a new leisure centre on the St George’s Leisure Centre site, not a refurbishment. Given that the original funding allocation of £25.163m is not sufficient, a decision on how the shortfall will be funded will be made following a review of the overall capital programme. The totality of the required funding will need to be identified and approved before the procurement phase of the scheme can commence.

2.    To confirm that officers should review the current housing programme to ensure that a housing scheme on the St George’s Leisure Centre site is part of that programme, based on a funding requirement of up to £16m.

Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, introduced the report which sought the Mayor’s confirmation of the decision to invest in the St George’s site to provide improved leisure facilities for residents in the south-west of the borough and approval to provide additional housing alongside a new leisure centre.

Officers asked the Mayor to note that the delivery of housing on the site would require re-prioritisation of some existing commitments in the capital programme. 

Cabinet discussed the report and heard submissions from Councillors. They welcomed the proposals which they felt would help to tackle the housing crisis and address childhood obesity.

The Mayor welcomed the report and thanked officers and the lead member for their hard work. He welcomed feedback from friends’ groups, but indicated he felt best value would be obtained through redevelopment of the site. The delivery of 27 new homes would be a welcome step to addressing overcrowding in the borough. He agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED:

1.    To confirm the building of a new leisure centre on the St George’s Leisure Centre site, not a refurbishment. Given that the original funding allocation of £25.163m is not sufficient, a decision on how the shortfall will be funded will be made following a review of the overall capital programme. The totality of the required funding will need to be identified and approved before the procurement phase of the scheme can commence.

2.    To confirm that officers should review the current housing programme to ensure that a housing scheme on the St George’s Leisure Centre site is part of that programme, based on a funding requirement of up to £16m.