Agenda item

The Deputy Leader presented the report which was the same report that had been presented to the recent Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 May 2026.

The report updated the Committee on Phase 1 of the Leisure Improvements Programme and followed on from the report presented to the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18 November 2025 when the funding allocation criteria had been agreed.

The scope of works had been put together by Officers, consultants and with the help of Welland Procurement to procure the works through an open tender process.   Nine formal submissions were received and following evaluation Northdown Property Services were identified as the preferred contractor.  At the meeting on 5 May 2026 the Cabinet approved the award of the contract to Northdown Property Services. 

Northdown Property Servicers were a leading property refurbishment and property maintenance company based in Peterborough and had experience of delivering similar projects with members of the team having differing trades.  The total contract value (£321,222) had come in significantly under that budgeted (£500,000) and due diligence checks had been undertaken by Officers in respect of the costs contained in the tender with most savings being seen at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre.   The pricing difference (£162,778) would be carried over to Phase 2 of the programme to allow for a greater scope of works to be carried out.

It was noted that there was the opportunity to vary works slightly if the chance arose whilst works were being carried out and a delegation had been put in place for the Section 151 Officer to utilise some of the savings if necessary.  Work was on going with the consultants to identify the scope of the works for Phase 2 of the programme which would be procured with the Welland Procurement Team.

The Deputy Leader reminded the Committee that refurbishment works had been discussed for two years by the Committee.  It was noted that during the refurbishment works there would be “a little pain” and that meant that the Grantham Meres Leisure Pool would have to be closed for a period of time.  Work at Bourne and Stamford Leisure Pools could be completed without the need for pool closures, however this was unavoidable at Grantham. 

Opportunities had been looked at to overcome this but unfortunately this had not been possible. Close working was being carried out with LeisureSK Ltd to keep the closure to an absolute minimum, but a closure of the pool would have to take place at the most convenient time to LeisureSK Ltd which was likely to be after the swim school programme had closed for the summer.

The Team Leader Leisure, Parks and Open Spaces informed the Committee that meetings had recently took place with the contractor to finalise options and to see about keeping the Meres Leisure Pool open, but it was looking increasingly likely that the pool would have to close of a period of time due to health and safety issues whilst the refurbishment work was being undertaken.

One Member made reference to the previous meeting of the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee where keeping the pools open had been discussed and he thanked the Deputy Leader for looking at whether this could be done and that they had looked to minimise closure where possible.

A further Member asked for more clarity around the health and safety issues and why the pool could not be kept open during the refurbishment works with various options being put forward, to which the Team Leader Leisure, parks and Open Spaces responded.

A question in respect of the proposed refurbishment works at the Grantham Stadium was requested to which the Team Leader Leisure, Parks and Open Spaces responded.  The works included improvements to the home and away changing areas, the main stand, ceiling replacements, new grids, improvement to shower areas, internal decorations, lighting replacements, ironmongery, new furniture and deep cleaning to the changing rooms.   In Annex B the outside toilets would be refurbished in both the north and south stands and the main flooring in the corridor.

A further question was asked in respect of investment and challenges at the Stadium and the Chairman stated that lease discussions were still on going.  A further comment was made in respect of the proposed pool closures making sure those with memberships are aware of this and it was stated that officers were liaising with LeisureSK Ltd and financial implications had been taken into account.

The Committee noted the report.