Issue - meetings

Report number: CAB/WS/20/063

Portfolio holder: Councillor Joanna Rayner

Lead officer: Jill Korwin

Resolved:

That:

1.       capital spending of £1,673,889 from the Leisure Strategic Investment Fund that was agreed in November 2016 (CAB/FH/16/049), be approved to deliver the improvements to Brandon Leisure Centre outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/20/063; and

2.       capital spending of £302,111 from the Investment in Growth Fund that was agreed in November 2018 (CAB/SE/17/020), be approved to develop rentable space within Brandon Leisure Centre, as detailed in section 5 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/063.

The Cabinet considered this report, which sought approval for a significant allocation of capital spending from previously approved budgets for investment in Brandon Leisure Centre.

Councillor Joanna Rayner, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Community Hubs, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet. She provided an outline of the proposed scheme, together with details of the outcomes of previously approved cost certainty work that had been undertaken, and the impact Covid-19 had had on the facility-based leisure activity sector. Reports and consumer opinion had indicated the sector would see a strong recovery and the West Suffolk Alliance for health and social care remained committed to the creation of new leisure and health clubs. This development would take the opportunity to create treatment rooms that could be used by health partners and strengthen the development of this integrated model.

One of the Council’s three strategic priorities was to promote ‘Resilient families and communities that are healthy and active’. As part of meeting this priority, the Council had adopted its own sports and physical activity framework. A financial evaluation of the proposed scheme had been conducted and this was outlined in exempt Appendix B. The proposal had been examined in the context of the sports and physical activity framework and identified that the proposal sat within the ‘Enable’ stream where there was an organisation that provided opportunities for sport and physical activity and were looking to expand. In addition, paragraph 2.6 of the report demonstrated how the proposal met the outcomes of the framework.

Having considered the proposal in detail, including assessing the impact Covid-19 was currently having on the facility-based leisure sector, the Cabinet was confident that investment in the Council’s leisure facilities remained acceptable. Members were aware of the complexities and challenges faced in Brandon and felt the town very much needed support. This support would be acknowledged through investment in the leisure centre which would have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Brandon’s residents.

Resolved:

That:

1.       capital spending of £1,673,889 from the Leisure Strategic Investment Fund that was agreed in November 2016 (CAB/FH/16/049), be approved to deliver the improvements to Brandon Leisure Centre outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/20/063; and

2.       capital spending of £302,111 from the Investment in Growth Fund that was agreed in November 2018 (CAB/SE/17/020), be approved to develop rentable space within Brandon Leisure Centre, as detailed in section 5 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/063.