Report of the Interim Consultant attached.
Decision:
RESOLVED (Unanimously) that:
1. all of the Members of the Cross Party Working Group for their work in bringing forward a comprehensive plan to deliver the first phase of a Health, Leisure and Well Being Campus Programme in the Borough be thanked;
2. Council be recommended to approve the investment programme summarised in Table 1 and that this is incorporated into the Council’s Capital Strategy; and
3. the revenue implications of the investment programme in Table 2 be noted and that they are incorporated into the Medium Term Financial Strategy for recommendation to Council.
Minutes:
Further to minute No. 56 of the meeting held on 6 December 2017, the Interim Consultant presented a report on the financial case to support the Council’s proposed Health, Leisure and Wellbeing Campus Programme. It was explained that whilst the financial information could be shared with elected members it was not appropriate for such information to be in the public arena.
The investment into the programme would initially be at a net cost to the Council but the envisaged savings and increased income streams of the facilities/approach would lead to a positive net contribution within the five year period.
The programme was wider that replacing assets and facilities but linked in with the Council’s proposed green links and working with partner organisations to deliver across health, leisure and wellbeing areas to provide a positive impact for residents.
Members appreciated the work to date and the programme’s significance to the Council and its residents.
The Cabinet was pleased that the cross party working had provided a consensus to move forward with such a large project.
Decision Made (Unanimously) that:
1. all of the Members of the Cross Party Working Group for their work in bringing forward a comprehensive plan to deliver the first phase of a Health, Leisure and Well Being Campus Programme in the Borough be thanked;
2. Council be recommended to approve the investment programme summarised in Table 1 and that this is incorporated into the Council’s Capital Strategy; and
3. the revenue implications of the investment programme in Table 2 be noted and that they are incorporated into the Medium Term Financial Strategy for recommendation to Council.
Reasons for the Decision:
The Cabinet endorsed the South Ribble Campus Programme and philosophy at its meeting on 6 December 2017. The concept received strong cross party support. However, the financial plan to deliver on such a programme needed further work. Following that meeting a business case and programme had been developed that could make significant progress over the next 5 years. The purpose of this report was to outline the financial business case and 5 year investment plan for developing the South Ribble Campus Programme.
The report was a strategic business case that examined the affordability and deliverability of the programme as well as its implications on the wider Council revenue budget. If agreed, it would set out a resource plan for the next 5 years that would enable delivery. It did NOT examine a detailed programme of spend for each element. That would be developed for each year based upon deliverability, emerging need and new demands. The whole Campus programme would not be complete within the 5 year period but large in-roads would be made. Further funding would be required for the following strategic period of 2023 -2028.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
The previous report considered on 6 December 2017, looked at a range of options considered. Other options were considered included doing nothing with existing facilities or maintaining current facilities. Both were dismissed, either as unsuitable or unsustainable. The Working Group constituted to look at the Campus Concept and its potential in South Ribble agreed to make better use of what the Council currently had and not consider closure, but rather replacement of facilities where it was needed.