Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

The Principal Leisure Officer presented the Tides Leisure Centre report.

The report provided an update on the outcome of the options appraisal study which considered a range of options seeking to improve the facilities at Tides Leisure Centre.

The report sought Cabinet agreement to further develop a project to construct a new build leisure centre to serve Deal and the wider district and to proceed with the next steps involved in delivering the project. The new build option offered the opportunity for the Council to provide a high quality, efficient, leisure centre as a longer-term solution with a designed life of 35-40 years serving the community of Deal and the wider district. The project would investigate how the funding gaps could be filled and the mix of facilities.

If the council did not do anything with Tides Leisure Centre, it would result in the progressive closure of the leisure pool and health and fitness as the plant or parts of the building failed.

Members discussed whether there was a role for Deal Town Council in contributing to the Project Advisory Group and the potential ways in which funding gaps could be met in developing the project.

RESOLVED:   That a representative from Deal Town Council be added to the membership of the Tides Project Advisory Group.

(Councillor T A Bond declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in Minute No. 106 (Tides Leisure Centre) by reason of his wife’s employment at Tides and withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment and Commercial Services

It was agreed:

(a)  That a project to construct a new-build wet-side and health and fitness leisure centre (retaining the sports hall and tennis centre) on the existing site at Tides Leisure Centre be developed further.

(b) That it be confirmed that the existing site at Tides Leisure Centre remains the    preferred location for leisure provision in Deal.

(c)  That the proposed project management arrangements, by the establishment of a Project Advisory Group and the approval of its Terms of Reference, be approved.

(d) That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised to procure and contract to secure the professional services required to support the project lifecycle, and that he also be authorised to appoint Faithful & Gould as Lead Consultant for the project lifecycle.

(e)  That £500,000 be set aside from the Capital Programme, tobe drawn down by the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial), in consultation with the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources), as required to support the next stage of the project, and that the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised to prepare and submit a grant application to Sport England’s Strategic Facility Fund.

(f)  That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised to engage with prospective partners and funders on the options for financing the new leisure centre.

(g) That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised to negotiate revised operational and financial management arrangements with Your Leisure to support the funding model.