To consider Report No. OS1915 (copy attached), which sets out the preferred approach for the procurement of a new leisure operating services contract covering the Farnborough Leisure Centre and the Aldershot Indoor Pools and Lido complex.
Presented By:Cllr Maurice Sheehan, Operational Services Portfolio Holder
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered Report No. OS1915, which set out the
proposed approach for the procurement of a new leisure operating services
contract covering the Farnborough Leisure Centre and Aldershot Indoor Pools and
Lido complex. The Chairman welcomed
Mrs Katherine Everard, Committee Member of Rushmoor Indoor Bowling Club, who
had requested to address the Cabinet on this issue.
Members were informed that, in February, 2019, GT3
Architects, along with Strategic Leisure Limited, had been appointed to assist
Council officers in looking at options for the future provision of leisure
facilities across the Borough, including the Farnborough Leisure Centre.
Members’ attention was brought to paragraph 4.9 of the Report which set out a
recommended facilities mix for a new leisure facility. This recommended that
the facilities mix did not include the reprovision of
an indoor bowls rink. A Headline Needs Analysis had been prepared and had
identified that indoor bowls could be provided as a stand-alone facility. The
build cost of a new facility, or the re-purposing of an existing building or
facility, would have a lower cost than the estimated £2.7 million cost of
incorporating indoor bowls in a new leisure centre, based on 1000 square metres
of space at a build cost of £2,700 per square metre.
Given the impact of this on the Rushmoor Indoor
Bowling Club, who were the primary users of the current facility, the Council
had contacted the Club advising them of the recommendations and had invited the
Club to work with officers to consider alternative options. A budget of £10,000
was to be set aside to support this work.
The Cabinet heard from Mrs Everard, who was
speaking on behalf of the Rushmoor Indoor Bowls Club. Mrs Everard brought the
Cabinet’s attention to the written representations that had been submitted. Mrs
Everard raised further points including:
-
that the increase in population from extensive
developments in the area would have the potential to increase demand for indoor
bowls facilities
-
could S106 developers’ contributions be used to fund the
provision of indoor bowls in the mix for a new leisure facility?
-
that the current location was ideal in terms of access for
the Club’s members, especially in terms of public transport links.
The Cabinet considered the representations made.
The Cabinet RESOLVED that
(i)
the
Head of Operational
Services, in consultation with the Operational Services Portfolio Holder, be
authorised to carry out the procurement of a new contract, as set out in Report
No. OS1915, using a process of competitive dialogue, including making
amendments to and finalising the documentation for use throughout the
procurement process;
(ii)
the procurement
documentation and conditions of contract, as set out in Appendices 3 – 6 to the
Report, be approved as the basis for the procurement;
(iii)
a total procurement project budget of £50,000, to be
included in the revised revenue estimates for 2019/20, be approved, with
flexibility to carry forward any unspent balance into 2020/21;
(iv)
in order to bring
forward the next stage of a new leisure centre in Farnborough as agreed in the
Corporate Plan, the facility mix, as set out in Paragraph 4.9 of the Report and
the setting aside of £100,000 of the Civic Quarter Farnborough Development
Capital Budget for the feasibility and design work for the leisure centre, be
approved; and
(v) Rushmoor officers be authorised to work with the Rushmoor Indoor Bowling Club to look at alternative options for indoor bowls and that a budget of £10,000 be approved to support initial feasibility work.
Supporting documents: