Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing)

This report seeks approval for short term investment in the Council’s leisure centre portfolio in 2017/18:

•   Investment of £1.545m to address priority condition issues which need to be carried out as planned works in 2017/18.

•   Establishment of a contingency fund of £0.543m to facilitate the procurement of works to rectify failures which could cause problems for business continuity at leisure centres.

The Executive is asked to:

·        Approve investment of £1.545m to address high priority condition issues as part of the Asset Management Plan capital programme.

·        Approve the creation of a contingency facility of £0.543m to address risks to business continuity as part of the Asset Management Plan capital programme.

·        Approve that the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) be authorised to agree the most appropriate funding source for this investment.

Officer contact: Peter Ashworth, 0161 474 2392, peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider proposals for short term investment in the Council’s leisure centre portfolio, the aim of which was to address priority condition issues at these facilities that may affect the business continuity.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Leisure Estate investment requirements for 2017/18:-

·           the investment of £1.545m to address high priority condition issues as part of the Asset Management Plan capital programme be approved;

·           the creation of a contingency facility of £0.543m to address risks to business continuity as part of the Asset Management Plan capital programme be approved; and

·           that the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) be authorised to agree the most appropriate funding source for this investment.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report sets out a proposal for short term investment in the Council’s leisure centre portfolio.  It is proposed that £1.545m is invested to facilitate works to address priority condition issues at seven centres in 2017/18.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a proposal for short term investment in the Council’s leisure centre portfolio. It was proposed that £1.545m was invested to facilitate works in order to address priority condition issues at seven centres in 2017/18. It was also proposed that a contingency facility of £0.543m was created in order to ensure that condition issues which could lead to business continuity issues at leisure centres could be addressed promptly as and when the need arose. The Corporate Director advised that a number of pieces of work were underway including a leisure needs survey and a detailed analysis of the age and quality of the leisure centres. Council Officers were working very closely with Life Leisure in progressing this work. Work was also being carried out as part of the health and wellbeing agenda.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 25 April 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• In response to a Member’s question, the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration agreed to clarify over how many years the business continuity work at Marple Leisure Centre would be carried out and share the project plan with the relevant Ward Councillors.
• Borrowing was the least attractive option to fund the works, but may be necessary.
• Putting the leisure estate back into the Asset Management Plan allowed more flexibility in the future for the leisure estate to be considered alongside other Council priorities and ensure that health and safety requirements were met. A Member expressed concern that the leisure estate had been taken out of the Asset Management Plan. At that time it had been proposed that the repair and maintenance of the leisure estate would transfer to Life Leisure.
• A Member expressed concern that when the Scrutiny Committee had previously considered the repair and maintenance of the Leisure Estate, it had been based on an evaluation of the condition of the facilities that was out of date.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Members of the Scrutiny Committee be provided with further information as soon as possible on how the works are to be funded should the Executive Meeting agree the proposals for short term investment in the Council’s leisure centre portfolio.