Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/SE/18/024

Portfolio Holder: Joanna Rayner      Lead Officer: Jill Korwin

RESOLVED:

That capital spending of £1,443,000 from the Strategic Investment Fund that was approved by Council in December 2016 (Report No: COU/SE/16/021), be approved, together with a further £25,984 from the Strategic Priorities and Medium Term Financial Strategy reserve to deliver the improvements to Haverhill Leisure Centre outlined in Report No: CAB/SE/18/024.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/18/024, which sought approval for a capital allocation from the previously approved Investment Fund for making improvements to Haverhill Leisure Centre.

In December 2016, Council approved the development of a Leisure Investment Fund with the aim to provide capital to invest in the Council’s leisure facilities to reduce the management fee provided to Abbeycroft Leisure accordingly.  In April 2017, the Council also agreed to enter into a new partnership with Abbeycroft Leisure with a schedule of management fee reductions, which was in part, based upon an option to redevelop Haverhill Leisure Centre.

Councillor Joanna Rayner, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including summarising the improvements proposed as set out in Section 1.2 of the report, and that a financial evaluation of the scheme had been conducted, also outlined in the report and at Exempt Appendix 2, which supported a justification for the investment.

In addition, the scheme would deliver against the principles of the Council’s Promoting Physical Activity Framework by encouraging a wider range of users to use the facilities.  Whilst the final scheme was 1.7% over budget at a total cost of £1,525,984, there was cost certainty and any overspend on this amount would be Alliance Leisure’s (the commissioned leisure facility developer specialising in the provision of local authority, education and leisure trust facilities) liability and not the Council’s responsibility (with the exception of any issues arising from the asbestos survey).  In addition to this investment, Abbeycroft Leisure had agreed to invest a further £200,000 of their own reserves to bring the project to reality and meet customer expectations.

The Cabinet acknowledged the considerable investment to be made; however it recognised the wider benefits of the proposal, particularly in respect of promoting better health and well-being, and was excited by the plans outlined in Appendix 1a and 1b.

RESOLVED:

That capital spending of £1,443,000 from the Strategic Investment Fund that was approved by Council in December 2016 (Report No: COU/SE/16/021), be approved, together with a further £25,984 from the Strategic Priorities and Medium Term Financial Strategy reserve to deliver the improvements to Haverhill Leisure Centre outlined in Report No: CAB/SE/18/024.