Report of the Director of Commercial enclosed.

Decision made

1.     That Cabinet agrees to the spending of up to £180k on the car park at South Ribble Tennis Centre to be funded from the Capital programme sum earmarked for the refurbishment of the Council’s Leisure Centres.

2.     That Cabinet delegates responsibility to theCabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets in liaison with the Director of Commercial Services for the awarding of the contact to the successful bidder to complete the extension to the car park at South Ribble Tennis and Fitness Centre following a procurement exercise underway which is being carried out under the Council’s procurement rules.

The Cabinet Member (Finance, Property and Assets) presented a report of the Director of Commercial concerning the award of contract to the successful contractor for the work to extend the Car park at South Ribble Tennis and Fitness Centre as part of a wider refurbishment programme at the Council’s Leisure Centres.

Decision made

1.     That Cabinet agrees to the spending of up to £180k on the car park at South Ribble Tennis Centre to be funded from the Capital programme sum earmarked for the refurbishment of the Council’s Leisure Centres.

2.     That Cabinet delegates responsibility to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets in liaison with the Director of Commercial Services for the awarding of the contact to the successful bidder to complete the extension to the car park at South Ribble Tennis and Fitness Centre following a procurement exercise underway which is being carried out under the Council’s procurement rules.

Reasons for recommendations

This is a long-standing project that has been discussed for a number of years whilst SERCO managed the Leisure Centres. This decision is about taking this project forward to relieve the congestion experienced at the South Ribble Tennis and Fitness Centre car park at peak time use within the Leisure Centre and allow for increased use of the facilities.

This decision will also allow the Council to take forward a key aspect of the Council’s Leisure Facilities Strategy which is to widen access to its Leisure Centres.

Alternative options considered and rejected

There was always the option of not doing this project. This would mean that the car park would continue to be congested at South Ribble Tennis and Fitness Centre car park and therefore the Centre would struggle to develop into the future.