Worden Hall Progress Update
Report of the Director of Commercial attached.
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets (Councillor Mick Titherington), the Director of Commercial and Service Lead for Development presented a progress update on the Worden Hall project and responded to members’ queries and comments.
Since the last update to the Scrutiny Committee, a new design team had been appointed and planning permission had been approved. The tender package for the main contractor of the refurbishment works had been formalised and a 5-week procurement process had commenced to run until late July 2021.
Members welcomed the progress and the confirmation that the project remained on-track to be completed in time for Leyland Festival in the summer of 2022.
It was acknowledged, however, that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted costs and material supply within the construction industry and that this could have some effect on the project’s budget.
Further confirmation of the intention for the revenue model to break-even and create a surplus was requested and provided by the Cabinet Member. Members were also advised in response that several fixed contracts had been introduced into the scheme, including an additional retail space, to meet demand and gain further income.
Slight concern was expressed over the additional backlog of maintenance and how this had been unaccounted for during earlier surveys. In response, it was explained that such repairs had been identified in the preparatory work but that they were more significant than originally anticipated.
In response to a query regarding what progress could be expected by the next update, it was stated that the contract for the works will have been awarded with contractors on site. Hopes that visible progress would be apparent were also expressed.
RESOLVED: (Unanimously)
That the Scrutiny Committee
1. thanks the Cabinet Member, Director and Shared Services Lead for attending and for their report;
2. welcomes the progress being made on the Worden Hall project; and
3. looks forward to taking the Cabinet Member up on his offer of a site visit to Worden Hall to view the project.