Issue - meetings

AGREED that Cabinet:

a)        note the progress of works to the dry side;

b)        approve the continued closure of the main pool;

c)        approve the additional revenue budget of £12,300 from the Change Management Reserve to fund the engineered solution to safeguard the structure of the main pool as set out in section 2.5(d) of the report;

d)        note that the learner pool would continue to operate;

e)        note the continued arrangements to support users of Southwell main pool to swim at other venues;

f)         approve in principle, the option of developing a new swimming facility (main pool, teaching pool plus associated changing facilities) on land adjacent to the current Southwell leisure centre, as set out in section 2.5(c)(2) of the report subject to detailed feasibility being undertaken and agreement of land transfer with the current landowner(s); a further report being brought back to Cabinet for approval as soon as practicable;

g)        approve the capital budget of £5.5m financed by borrowing for the estimated build cost of the replacement pools as set out in 2.5(c)(2) of the report noting that reports will be brought to Cabinet on revised estimated costs as the feasibility project progresses;

h)        approve a revenue budget of £25,000 from the Capital Feasibility Reserve to carry out design works to RIBA Stage1 for a new Leisure Centre which incorporates the new pool building; the design works to be procured on in principle agreement of land transfer to the Council; and

i)          request officers to work up options, costings and methods of finance for the replacement pools to form part of aspirations for a wider development of a new leisure centre on the site, in conjunction with partners and relevant landowners.

The Business Manager – Corporate Property presented a report which provided the Cabinet with an update on the outcome of the investigation works to the main pool and a summary of the repair and replacement options with costs, and an update on the works being carried out to the ‘dry side’ of the centre.

During the closure of the main pool water level measurements were recorded and the findings showed a sizeable leak with a water loss which was beyond the average for the type and size of pool by an extreme margin. Therefore, operating the main pool was considered viable. The pool leak remediation options were set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)            note the progress of works to the dry side;

b)            approve the continued closure of the main pool;

c)             approve the additional revenue budget of £12,300 from the Change Management Reserve to fund the engineered solution to safeguard the structure of the main pool as set out in section 2.5(d) of the report;

d)            note that the learner pool would continue to operate;

e)            note the continued arrangements to support users of Southwell main pool to swim at other venues;

f)              approve, in principle, the option of developing a new swimming facility (main pool, teaching pool plus associated changing facilities) on land adjacent to the current Southwell leisure centre, as set out in section 2.5(c)(2) of the report subject to detailed feasibility being undertaken and agreement of land transfer with the current landowner(s); a further report being brought back to Cabinet for approval as soon as practicable;

g)             approve the capital budget of £5.5m financed by borrowing for the estimated build cost of the replacement pools as set out in 2.5(c)(2) of the report noting that reports will be brought to Cabinet on revised estimated costs as the feasibility project progresses;

h)            approve a revenue budget of £25,000 from the Capital Feasibility Reserve to carry out design works to RIBA Stage1 for a new Leisure Centre which incorporates the new pool building; the design works to be procured on in principle agreement of land transfer to the Council; and

i)              request officers to work up options, costings and methods of finance for the replacement pools to form part of aspirations for a wider development of a new leisure centre on the site, in conjunction with partners and relevant landowners.

Reasons for Decision:

To provide a long-term, value for money solution for the provision of swimming and other leisure centre activities at Southwell.

Options Considered:

The four possible alternative options were detailed in full in section 2.5 of the report.