To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1608 (copy attached), which provides an update on the work of the Lido Review Task and Finish Group.
Presented By:Leisure and Youth
Minutes:
The Cabinet
considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1608, which provided an update on the work of the Lido Review
Task and Finish Group and proposed working arrangements for the Aldershot Lido
for the 2016 season.
The Cabinet was reminded of the work that had been carried out by the
Task and Finish Group previously. The Group had worked closely with both
the Friends of Aldershot Lido and the Aldershot Civic Society and had invited
each of these organisations to co-opt a representative to the Group. The
Group’s vision for the site was for an integrated facility for all ages,
including a lido, splash pad, adventure golf, indoor pool and fitness suite,
café and shop, changing rooms, slides and flumes. It was
recognised, however, that any facilities should not jeopardise existing
provision in the area and must be financially viable. It was
reported that the Aldershot Civic Society had carried out an online
survey regarding the Aldershot Lido and a summary of the responses received was
included as an appendix to the Report. It showed broad support for the
retention of a lido, with the addition of some complementary facilities, such
as a splash pad. Respondents had felt that the improvement most likely to
increase visits to the site would be the heating of the pool.
Given the
additional work carried out by the Friends of Aldershot Lido, the Aldershot
Civic Society and the Council, the Task and Finish Group proposed that the
Council should continue to share any surpluses or deficits equally with Places
for People, with a maximum risk or return to the Council capped at £20,000.
This would help to ensure that any increased support from local residents would
have the potential to reduce the Council’s subsidy rather than improve the
profit for the contractor. Despite the introduction of various initiatives in
2015, attendances had fallen significantly compared to 2014. A meeting had been held between the Friends of Aldershot Lido, the
Aldershot Civic Society, the Council and Places for People and a number of
improvements and initiatives had been agreed for the 2016 season. Furthermore,
it was proposed that, given the wide range of
potential service providers for the Lido and the Aldershot Indoor Pool, the
Council should invite around ten experienced organisations to participate in
soft market testing. This would focus on options for how the facility could be improved and this would help to shape the tendering
process, which would begin later in 2016.
The Cabinet
discussed the Report and welcomed the proposal to carry out soft market
testing with a view to improving the facilities offered and providing long term
financial sustainability at the site.
The Cabinet RESOLVED that
(i)
the
continuation of the financial arrangement, where the Council shares the risk
and return linked to profit with Places for People for 2016, to provide an
incentive for the additional work being carried out by the Friends of Aldershot
Lido , the Aldershot Civic Society and the Council, with the Council’s maximum
risk and return being capped at £20,000, be approved; and
(ii)
a soft market testing exercise for the
Aldershot Indoor Pool and Lido be approved, to be carried out over Summer 2016.
Supporting documents: