Agenda item - Investment in Council's Leisure Centres

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities.

1. To approve the proposed scope of works identified in the report for a first phase investment into the Council’s Leisure Centres as set out below in paragraph 43 which will complement the Decarbonisation work already approved for the Leisure Centres.

2. To approve that a sum of £775k is reallocated from the existing capital budget for a new Leisure Centre (total £19m) to complete the proposed work on the Leisure Centres to complement the Decarbonisation work. This will take the total capital works proposed on existing leisure centres (including work already underway) to £2.875m.

3. To note the intended use of the UK Leisure Framework to procure the proposed first phase investments into the Leisure Centres to combine the work with the Decarbonisation programme approved by Council and Cabinet.

4. To note the decision to award the finalised contract to the UK Leisure Framework for the Leisure Centre first phase investment programme will be taken by the Executive Member for Finance Property and Assets and Executive Member (Deputy Leader) for Health and Well-being in consultation with the Director of Communities. This will align the contract with the delegation given to that executive member in relation to the decarbonisation works.

5. To approve a new Capital budget to provide a grant of £200,000 to Lostock Hall Academy, and approves a loan of £100,000 in line with the financial terms outlined below in paragraph 70. The total contribution of £300k will be used for the development of a new Community Leisure Facility on the Academy site representing a new Leisure Local partnership between the School and South Ribble Borough Council.

6. To approve a new capital budget of £300k as per paragraph 73 to allow a grant to be provided to the charity Gregson Green, towards the replacement of Gregson Lane Community Centre.

7. To delegate responsibility to the Director of Governance to be exercised in consultation with the Deputy Leader (Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being) and Director of Communities, to put in place grant and legal agreements concerning the grants and loan proposed above.

8. To note that a further report will be brought to Council in May 2022 outlining a substantial second phase investment programme into the Council’s Leisure Centres (estimated to be circa £6m) and propose a procurement strategy and timetable to deliver the work.

Councillor Michael Green sought advice from the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer regarding the consideration of this and the following item due to purdah. It was noted that, whilst there was a by-election ongoing the decision related to the whole Borough and was time bound. In addition, the report did not promote a particular candidate or political party (which would be contrary to the rules of purdah), and so it was appropriate for the items to be considered.

The Cabinet Member (Deputy Leader, Health and Wellbeing), Mick Titherington, presented the report of the Director of Communities.

The report supported the objectives within the Council’s Leisure Facilities Strategy, adopted by the Council’s Cabinet in 2020, with particular regard to developing local Leisure facilities accessible to communities.

The report sought approval for investment proposals for work to be undertaken at the Council’s own Leisure Centres to complement the Decarbonisation work about to start, alongside a proposed Leisure Local investment at Lostock Hall Academy and Community Centre at Gregson Lane.

Members spoke in support of the proposals, including Councillors Aniela Bylinski Gelder, Jacqui Mort, Gareth Watson, Matthew Trafford, Barrie Yates, Chris Lomas, Paul Wharton-Hardman, David Howarth, Paul Foster and Matthew Tomlinson.

Other members commented on the proposals, including Councillors Matt Campbell, Margaret Smith, Karen Walton, Phil Smith.

Councillor Jacqui Mort requested that publicly available information be circulated to all members as soon as possible regarding the facilities at Lostock Hall Academy. The Leader agreed to provide this when available.

Councillor Karen Walton noted concerns regarding the figures quoted for a new leisure centre and queried if there would be sufficient capacity across the current centres. The Deputy Leader noted the figures had been provided and was assured that capacity would be sufficient.

Councillor Phil Smith queried if there would be no need for gas at all moving forwards and if air source heat pumps would be sufficient. A response would be provided following the meeting.

It was proposed by the Cabinet Member (Deputy Leader, Health and Wellbeing), Mick Titherington, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, and subsequently Resolved (unanimously)