Agenda and minutes

Following nomination, it was proposed, seconded and AGREED for Councillor Bridget Ley to act as Chairman, for this meeting.

Following nomination, it was proposed, seconded and AGREED for Councillor Paul Fellows to act as Vice-Chairman, for this meeting.

The Council welcomes engagement from members of the public. To speak at this meeting, please register no later than 24 hours prior to the date of the meeting via democracy@southkesteven.gov.uk.

It was agreed that the public speaker be given 20 minutes to present their statement.  

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors James Denniston, Lee Steptoe, Ben Green and Matt Bailey.

Councillor Phil Gadd substituted for Councillor Lee Steptoe.

Councillor Anna Kelly substituted for Councillor James Denniston.

Councillor Helen Crawford substituted for Councillor Ben Green.

Councillor Graham Jeal substituted for Councillor Matt Bailey.

Councillor Paul Wood filled the vacancy for the SK Coalition Group.

Councillor Murray Turner would arrive late to the meeting, due to work commitments.

Members are asked to disclose any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

There were none.

To provide a recommendation to Council on a request for one-off funding which has been received from Deepings Community Leisure Centre CIC in the sum of £850,000.

The Deputy Leader of the Council provided the Committee with a presentation. The presentation included the history of Deepings Leisure Centre

The Deepings Leisure Centre Community Interest Company (CIC) had requested a one-off contribution of £850,000 towards refurbishment and reopening of the Deepings Leisure Centre.

The Committee were requested to focus the debate on the desirability, legality, affordability, achievability, value for money, risks and benefits.

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure congratulated the CIC for presenting a viable business plan and highlighted certain aspects of the Officer’s report.

The Chairman informed the Committee that there had been an amendment to 1.38 on page 12 of the report. The East Midlands Building Control Manager had stated that paragraph 1.38 be disregarded.

The Assistant Director of Culture and Leisure clarified that the East Midlands Building Control Manager had reconsidered the advice. The advice in paragraph 1.38 would stand should there be no existing heating at all within the building and a heating source be introduced but as a change of heating status, it was not necessary to bring the whole of the building up to current building standards.

(Councillor Murray Turner joined the meeting at 14:45)

Two Directors of the Deepings Leisure Centre Community Interest Company (CIC) provided their statement:

‘Good Afternoon and thank you for giving me the opportunity to present this request for funding towards the renovation and re-opening of The Deepings Leisure Centre and for your time this afternoon to give it your consideration. I have been an SKDC Councillor for Market & West Deepings for the past 5 years but today I am addressing you in my role as a Director of the Deeping Community Leisure Centre CIC. I have with me Martin Reilly who is the Director with responsibility for the refurbishment programme.

I don't intend to go through the years long history of how we came to this position as it is well documented. This request is looking for this council's support to reinstate leisure facilities to thousands of residents of The Deepings and beyond, facilities that they have enjoyed for over 50 years and which will bring parity with the other three towns of South  Kesteven. Throughout all our previous battles to retain facilities we have had the unending support of residents and this has never wavered. The Deepings is truly the least supported area within SKDC and we have watched over the years as one service or facility after another has been taken away. We have no arts centre or large events venue, our community centre is run by volunteers, we now run our own immensely successful library (again with volunteers), we looked after ourselves during the pandemic through volunteers, we recently updated a miserable little SKDC play park again with money raised by volunteers and so it goes on. We now wish to be given the means to run our leisure centre, again by volunteers on a not for profit basis.

I'd now like to comment on various aspects of the documents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 17:40.