Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 5th February, 2026 7.00 pm - Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Offices, Farnborough

Contact: Administrator, Adele Taylor  Tel. (01252) 398831, Email.  adele.taylor@rushmoor.gov.uk

Link: Click here to view a recording of the meeting

Items
No. Item

26.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 273 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11th December, 2025 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 11th December, 2025 were agreed as a correct record.

 

It was also agreed that an update would be provided on the recommendations made at the December meeting on the Walk this Waste Pilot and changes to the new Housing Oversight Group Terms of Reference, at the meeting to be held on 24th February, 2026.

27.

Exclusion of the Public

To consider resolving:

 

That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned items to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such item:

 

Item    Schedule      Category

Nos.   12A Para.

            No.

 

3&4     3          Information relating to financial or business affairs

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned items to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the item:

 

Minute           Schedule      Category

Nos.               12A Para.

                        No.

 

28 & 29          3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

 

28.

Farnborough Leisure Centre - Leisure Operator Procurement pdf icon PDF 329 KB

To carry out pre-decision scrutiny on the procurement and approval of an operator for the Aldershot Pools and Lido, Alpine Snowsports Centre and the proposed new Farnborough Leisure Centre, prior to consideration by the Cabinet at its meeting on 10th February, 2026 – Cabinet Report No. OS2603 (copy attached). Exempt appendices, referenced in the Report, will be available to Members of the Committee on Monday 2nd February by following this link.

 

David Phillips, Deputy Head of Operations, will give a short presentation.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities and Active Lives, Cllr Sophie Porter, will also be in attendance.

Minutes:

The Committee carried out pre-decision scrutiny on the procurement and approval of an operator for the Aldershot Pools and Lido, Alpine Snowsports Centre and the proposed new Farnborough Leisure Centre prior to consideration by the Cabinet at its meeting on 10th February, 2026.

 

Report No. OS2603 set out the outcome of the Leisure Operator procurement process which commenced in June 2025 and was assessed to take account of both quality (60%) and cost (40%). Operators had the option to bid on two different lots, a standard concession contract or an agency agreement.

 

The Committee were provided with some background information to the preferred operator, noting their purpose and values, health and wellbeing programme, investment throughout the contract term, the added social and environmental value, and financial deliverability and sustainability. Members were also apprised of a number of risks, and the mitigations in place to address these.

 

During discussions the Committee asked a number of questions:

 

·         Can we guarantee that costs won’t be put on residents through membership fees – it was noted that the preferred bidder had proposed a pricing model to ensure equity of access and commercial performance. Price increases would be aligned to industry best practice, benchmarked annually against Sport England, comparators, and user feedback. Prices would be reported to the Council for agreement annually.

·         What were the implications of targets not being met – it was noted that the Council would retain an agreed minimum financial return that was guaranteed.

·         What were the financial implications of a mechanical or plant failure at the Lido – it was advised that responsibility for maintenance of the lido plant would remain with the Council.

·         Car parking capacity at the Aldershot Pools and Lido – this was an ongoing issue and was discussed as part of the process. It was noted that additional parking had been made available in recent years with a new lido overflow at the rear of the grounds (100 spaces), utilising a small area of Aldershot Park (up to 100 spaces) and on rare occasions the Crematorium car park (up to 50 spaces) for use in busy periods.

·         Due diligence, in particular holding to account over promises of social value at procurement stage – it was noted that provision would be included in the contract terms to cover areas such as social value.

·         Procurement process costs – it was noted that the Council had a contract with Portsmouth Council who carried out procurement work with the Council’s officers.

·         Community outreach – some target areas had been identified, in particular those areas of multiple deprivation, however, it was noted that these were negotiable.

 

The Committee also discussed rebuilding relationships with clubs, in particular the swimming and synchronised swimming clubs. It was advised that the project team had been in contact with key stakeholders, including these clubs, during the process.

 

ACTIONS:

What

By Whom

When

 Confirm any penalties for contract failure by the operator?

David Phillips – Deputy Head of Operations

 ASAP

 Confirm whether the Council should ask the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Having regard to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Councillors, the following declarations of interest were made: 

 

Item No.

Member

Interest

Reason

 

 

 

 

30

Cllr S. Trussler

Personal and

non-pecuniary

Director Rushmoor Homes Limited

 

 

 

 

30

Cllr Gareth Williams

Personal and

non-pecuniary

Director Rushmoor Homes Limited

 

The Committee agreed that the Directors of RHL could remain and participate in the meeting in line with the previous dispensation provided by the Council’s Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee, in May 2021, who had granted dispensations to Members appointed by the Council to the Board of the Rushmoor Development Partnership and as Directors of Rushmoor Homes Limited.

30.

Union Yard, Aldershot - Disposal of Blocks C & D

To consider the decision made by the Cabinet at its meeting on 15th December, 2025, to dispose of Blocks C&D at Union Yard, Aldershot to Vivid Housing.

 

Since the December meeting of the Cabinet, some key project dependencies have changed, and it has been confirmed that the purchase will now take place in mid-February. Therefore, it was agreed that the Committee have the opportunity to re-consider the matter, and revisit alternative options considered as part of the original decision to dispose to Prime in 2025.

 

The following exempt documents are available for reference:

 

Cabinet 8 April 2025 - Exempt Report No. REG2502

Cabinet 15 December 2025- Exempt Report No. REG2542

 

A covering Report will be available on Monday 2nd February, 2026.

 

Any recommendations arising from the Committee, would then be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 10th February, 2026.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the decision made by the Cabinet at its meeting on 15 December, 2025, to dispose of Blocks C & D at Union Yard, Aldershot to Vivid Housing.

 

It was noted that since the Cabinet meeting in December, some key dependencies had changed, and it had been confirmed that Vivid’s Board decision would now take place in mid-February. The Committee were given the opportunity to speak with Chris Hodgkinson of Lambert Smith Hampton (Investment Management) (LSH) regarding their recent soft market testing on the value of Blocks C & D. Mr Hodgkinson advised that six companies had come forward with offers all of which were under the value being offered by Vivid Housing, therefore, LSH’s recommendation was to pursue the sale with Vivid Housing.

 

The Committee discussed the financial implications of selling to Vivid Housing against the alternative options set out in Exempt Report No. REG2502 and were advised that whilst red book valuations were used as a benchmark a property’s actual sale value was that value the market was willing to pay at the time. It was also noted that soft market testing was, in general, a true reflection of value, however, on occasion off market sales could result in over valuation as well as under valuation. Members asked and received responses to a number of questions regarding the detail of the sale.

 

The Committee also discussed selling the properties individually on the open market and shared views on the difference in income this could provide. In response to a query, it was noted that selling the properties in a piecemeal way, which could take between 14-21 months, would result in additional costs whilst sales were still progressing when compared to a single sale of both blocks. Although the total capital receipt achieved from individual disposals could be higher once all were sold this would need to be ‘netted off’ against the additional holding costs and was considered a higher risk compared to the immediate benefit of a larger single capital receipt

 

Executive Director, Karen Edwards advised that Option 4(a), as set out in Exempt Report No. REG2502, had been the original preferred option for disposal on the units back in April 2025. That offer had been withdrawn and the current offer from Vivid Housing was the quickest to progress in line with the Council’s Financial Recovery Programme and help minimise further costs associated with holding onto the property for a longer period. In addition, it was noted that the mix of properties and restrictions on the commercial units had also been adjusted as part of the negotiations. With regards to nomination rights, it was noted that affordable housing nominations would sit with the Council’s current arrangements and would help address the number of residents currently on the housing list, whereas shared ownership would be managed through Vivid Housing.

 

In response to a query regarding Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), and Vivid’s perceived inaction on these matters, it was advised that meetings were being held at a strategic level to address  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.