Agenda item

To consider feedback from the visit to leisure centres at Watford, St Albans, Flitwick and Ramsgate which took place on 20 April.

The Principal Leisure Officer (PLO) advised that the Group had visited three leisure centres on 20 April and another on 5 May. 

Following the visits, Members’ views on the facility options had been sought, and a summary of these could be found on page 16 of the agenda.   Five-a-side size 3G pitches had proved popular and were viewed as a core facility.  The Chairman commented that a 3G pitch or pitches would be essential were the sports hall provision to be reduced from eight courts to four given that football was currently one of the most popular activities in the sports hall.  However, consideration would need to be given to Sport England guidance governing separate changing-rooms.  The PLO advised that, whilst Sport England preferred separate changing-rooms for full-size pitches, the pitches proposed would not be full-sized, and specification of changing facilities was therefore open to negotiation. 

Pages 9 to 15 of the agenda set out the feedback received from Members on the individual leisure centres visited.  In summary, Members had felt generally less positive about traditional climbing walls than ‘Clip and Climb’ walls, a new concept put forward by the consultants.  Members who had had personal experience of the latter praised them and viewed them as potentially good income generators.   The layout of gyms and lighting (particularly natural lighting) were also seen as important factors in a successful design.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets (DECA) commented that the visits had proved very useful in identifying potential design/architectural problems, as well as learning about the most effective finishes, wear and tear, etc.  For example, although there had been generally positive comments about the leisure centre at Watford, one of the areas of concern had been the relative lack of visibility around the swimming area.  The St Albans centre was an upmarket facility serving an affluent area, whose ambitions were to compete with the private sector.   The Flitwick centre was a newly opened, mid-range facility, with two 5-a-side 3G pitches and a gym which was of similar quality to that of St Albans’.   The facility at Ramsgate had a different offer, but it had been interesting to see what was available locally.

The PLO reported that Officers had also undertaken a fifth leisure centre visit to Elmbridge on the outskirts of London.   This centre served a mixed demographic and had a core facility mix which was similar to Dover’s, although it had an 8-court sports hall.   The centre had not been funded by Sport England.  It was housed in a 10-year old building which had worn well.  Two key elements had come out of the visit for Officers.   Firstly, the operators had advised that, in hindsight, they would have reduced the sports hall to four courts. The 8-court hall was under-used and therefore not generating as much income as predicted.   Secondly, a soft-play facility was incorporated into a glazed area adjacent to the entrance and café where children could be seen but not heard.   This was a good facility which generated a healthy profit.  The café at Elmbridge had been the best one of all the centres visited in terms of design and layout.  It was what was known as a ‘Grab and Go’ café, moving away from a full catering facility.  The centre had an 8-lane 25-metre pool and a teaching pool with moveable floor.  In respect of the latter, the operator had advised that a moveable floor was essential because it meant that the pool could be used for swimming lessons, aqua-aerobics and water confidence sessions for toddlers.

The Chairman remarked that Members had been sceptical about the suitability of a spa for the Dover centre.  However, the Ramsgate spa  appeared to be a success, and indicated that spas could do well in areas which were not as affluent as St Albans.  He commented that the retail offer at Dover would need to be carefully developed.   The PIDO advised that the entrance area at Elmbridge contained a retail offer similar to Ramsgate’s which generated a healthy turnover. Officers were mindful that the new leisure centre would need an attractive retail offer, but the detail of this would be considered at a later stage of the process as efforts were now focused on getting the correct facility mix. The DECA added that the retail offer was solely an issue for the Council rather than Sport England.  There was consensus that the retail area would be an important element of the facilities on offer.

In response to concerns raised, the Chairman confirmed that the Council was still at the stage of defining what it wanted from a new leisure centre, particularly in respect of the sports facility mix.  There was still some way to go and no decisions had been made.  By September, the Group would be making further recommendations to Cabinet on the leisure centre, on the back of the ISFS.  The PLO clarified that the information in the ISFS would feed into the consultants’ feasibility and options appraisal work. 

It was agreed that the update be noted.