Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader of the Council to consider provision of new and enhanced leisure centres across South Kesteven.

Decision:

The Cabinet:

1.            Formally endorses the Leader’s announcement, made in 2018, to improve and increase the leisure provision in South Kesteven

2.            Endorses the assessment of delivery options for each of the buildings, for the proposed enhanced leisure offer

3.            Approves the exploration of options regarding the operation of the current leisure centres and the development of a business case for new operating models including the formation of a Charitable Trust

4.            Approves the drafting of a Sports and Physical Activity Strategy and a Cycling Strategy as part of the overarching Cultural Strategy

5.            Recommends to Council that a Budget commitment of £11,000 is sought for the development of a new Cycling Strategy through Sustrans

6.            Recommends to Council that a budget commitment of £130,000 is sought from the local priorities reserve, to secure appropriate resource to progress the programme to enhance leisure opportunities for everyone (£30,000 to commission InvestSK to commence engagement with the community and sports groups across the district and £100,000 to deliver the programme to the next stage)

7.            Approves a full consultation exercise around the options for Grantham leisure centre

Reasons for decision

1.            The report of the Leader of the Council on enhancing leisure opportunities for everyone

2.            The benefits provided by leisure in respect of health and wellbeing, education, community development and its contribution to the local economy

3.            The programme was expected to commence in the 2020/21 financial year

4.            A feasibility study produced by Mace consultants for all of the existing leisure centre buildings including a condition survey (appendix 1 to the report of the Leader of the Council)

5.            Details of community benefits for current leisure facilities and proposed mixes as set out in appendix 2 to the report of the Leader of the Council

6.            The existing leisure centres in Bourne and the Deepings were shared with local schools

7.            The Council would undertake consultation with all other interested parties on proposals for the new leisure facilities

8.            There were established swimming clubs in the Deepings, Bourne and Grantham

9.            Leisure facilities were currently provided by 1Life; the contract was due to end on 3 January 2021

10.         It was the Council’s intention to draft a Sports and Physical Activity Strategy as part of the overarching Cultural Strategy for the district

11.         Consultation that was underway on the Council’s Cultural Strategy

12.         InvestSK had recently appointed a Sports Development Officer to deliver a Sport Strategy

13.         The Council had engaged with Sustrans to develop cycling and walking strategies

14.         The budgets for each centre would continue to climb as required repair work increased and equipment reached the end of its useful life; the effect on service provision would trigger penalties under the current operator model and 1Life would be unable to benefit from income from facilities that were no longer in operation

Other options considered and rejected

Grantham Meres Leisure Centre

·         Extended life

With the replacement of key equipment and a general overhaul of the existing installations the  ...  view the full decision text for item 88

The Leader presented the report ‘Enhancing Leisure Opportunities for Everyone’, which set out proposals regarding leisure provision in the district. The report recommended the delivery of new leisure centres in Stamford and the Deepings and a refurbished and extended leisure centre at Bourne. The report also proposed consideration of the benefits of a new leisure offer in Grantham town centre and consulting with the public on this approach.

In presenting the report, the Leader spoke about the context of the leisure agenda and its importance for promoting health and wellbeing. He added that InvestSK was developing a new Physical Activity Strategy and a Cycling Strategy as part of the overarching Cultural Strategy.

A sum of £11,000 had been proposed within the report to support the development of the Cycling Strategy, in partnership with Sustrans. The Leader referred to connectivity in the town, including movement of people around the town centre and into the outskirts. He said that he would like this to lead to the development of a Cycling Strategy covering the wider district.

The Leader stated that he was asking the Cabinet to recommend a budget to Council of £130,000 to work towards realising the project, which would begin in 2020/21. The budget would be used to commission consultation and engagement through investSK and to secure appropriate resource to progress the programme to enhance leisure opportunities for everyone. He recognised that there would be implications in respect of land, stating that whilst discussions were underway they were commercially sensitive but agreed to bring further information back to the Cabinet on a future occasion.

Cabinet Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and debate the proposals within the Leader’s report; comments included:

• The work with Sustrans should link to the wider visitor economy agenda
• The work with Sustrans would need to take account of the full picture of Grantham now and in the future
• The existing leisure centres had lasted well but were considered ‘of their time’
• The InvestSK Sports Development Officer was in post
• Consideration would be given to connecting leisure facilities in towns with rural areas to encourage sport in rural communities
• The report recognised the mix of leisure facilities across the district and provided the opportunity to consider leisure facilities in a wider, economic development context
• The leisure model had changed overtime to hubs for health and wellbeing that included health services and active discussion was underway with the NHS

Non-Cabinet Members were then given the opportunity to comment and ask questions; points raised included:

• Work was underway to identify the locations of the two leisure facilities for Stamford and the Deepings
• Location was important; centres needed to be accessible by foot, bicycle and public transport as well as by car
• Designs would be produced in consultation with all interested parties, with a full business case developed to take account of community needs and expectations.
• The Deepings had a popular swimming club and it was noted that accommodation for spectators was required; suggestions were also made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88