Agenda item

A Leisure Investment Reserve has been established and site surveys have been undertaken to allocate the funding of £500k across the four locations.

The Deputy Leader of the Council presented the report.

The Council was currently focussing significant resources in tackling a backlog of maintenance across a varied range of corporate property assets. This work commenced in 2023 and was likely to continue for the next ten years. During this period, significant resources have been invested in the leisure facilities including roof and infrastructure repairs, replacement of boilers and plant, investment in external decorations, repairs to the wave machines at Bourne and Stamford and investment in carbon and energy reduction schemes.

As the primary focus had been on dealing with maintenance, there have been limited resources available to improve the decoration and replace worn out fixtures and fittings at the facilities. In recognition of the need to invest in these elements of the facilities, it was agreed to create a dedicated reserve to the value of £500k to enable investment in the facilities.

It was agreed that an improvement plan for each of the locations be developed focussing on those areas where there is a strong interface with the customers and where there is clear evidence of an investment requirement.

A proposed methodology had been developed on information from a range of sources. This approach was presented to the Committee on 23rd September 2025 and received support as a way forward.

Following the meeting, external consultants had been appointed to visit each Centre and prioritise the proposed works focussing on the following customer experience areas:

• Changing areas

• Reception areas

• Public toilets

• Meeting rooms

• Other communal areas

These visits took place during October 2025 and the consultants were accompanied by staff from the Council and representatives from Leisure SK Ltd. The overwhelming conclusion was that the funding should be primarily focused on the changing areas and facilities as these have the most negative impact on the customers and have not been adequately maintained for a number of years. In respect of the Meres leisure centre, this will be the changing village adjacent to the pools.

In summary the priority focus is to be:

• Fixtures and fittings

• Replacement of missing items – seats, handles etc

• Decoration improvements

• Deep cleaning

• Replacement of ceiling tiles

The Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Officer) provided a visual presentation to the Committee to outline the immediate obvious issues at each of the sites (3 leisure centres and SK Stadium).

One Member formally requested a explanatory press release be prepared to inform residents of the financial figures and planned works.

The Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Officer) accepted the £500k was a low amount of funding and it was felt a higher amount of money could be spent on each of the sites, however, the funding was capped at £500k.

The Meres leisure centre and SK Stadium were in worse condition due to having the highest usage, this had been reflected in the allocation and share of the £500k and also recognises the need for a further allocation of £500k to the Leisure Investment Reserve within the Cabinet budget proposals for 2026/27.

It was further clarified that the report at present had been reviewed by a consultant, and a specification had not yet been to the market. The feedback from the consultant only provided advice on where the most return for the investment would be.

(Councillor Tim Harrison arrived at the meeting at 10:40am)

One Member noted that all Council assets should be well looked after. It was felt that further funding would be required to refurbish the buildings.

The Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement confirmed it was Cabinet’s priority to ensure funding is explored to maintain Council assets.

The Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Officer) clarified the figures provided were provisional until the Council went out to market. The Council were developing the new contract procedural rules and exploring the use of local supply chains to source the work.

One Member noted that local residents had provided negative feedback on the Meres Leisure Centre changing facilities.

One Member highlighted they would prefer to see the initial funding spent on Bourne and Stamford Leisure Centres before working on the upgrades at the Meres Leisure Centre, it was felt the facilities at the Meres were in the worst condition.

South Kesteven stadium was primarily used by Grantham Football Club and other community groups. It was suggested that £100,000 on the stadium may be best spent elsewhere and the stadium upgrades be reviewed once the lease with Grantham Football Club had been arranged.

The Committee were reminded that South Kesteven Stadium served the whole District and not just Grantham. 

One Member offered to provide a tour of the stadium to provide a visual insight of the upgrades it required.

It was suggested a communication strategy be created to inform the users of the leisure centres and stadium on the overdue maintenance planned.

Clarification was sought around the meaning of ‘contract to preliminaries’

The Head of Service (Property and ICT) clarified contract to preliminaries referred to costs associated with the contract being on site which included welfare costs and any set up for compounds and the hire of equipment to carry out the works.

The Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement clarified that all centres and the stadium were a priority, rather than a specific one.

One Member hoped that residents of South Kesteven would benefit from the refurbishment of the changing room facilities across all the Centres prior to Local Government Reorganisation.

It was highlighted that a new leisure centre was due to open in Spalding in 2026. Concern was raised that this may have a negative impact on Bourne Leisure Centre facilities.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED:

1.  To support the allocation of the funding of £500k to refurbish the changing room facilities across all the Centres.

2. Recommend that Cabinet consider a further allocation of £500k to the Leisure Investment Reserve within their budget proposals for 2026/27.