Issue - meetings

The Committee is asked to note the updated budget position for the construction of the Eclipse Leisure Centre.

The Committee requested that a more clear and concise report be brought back to this committee for them to consider the current budget position for the construction of the Eclipse Leisure Centre.

The Committee considered a report that outlined additional spend on the Eclipse Leisure Centre that had been approved by the Community Wellbeing & Housing Committee on 07 January 2025.

The Corporate Policy & Resources Committee were asked to note the updated budget position for the construction of the Eclipse Leisure Centre.

Committee members were advised that negotiations were still being undertaken with Wilmot Dixon to finalise the accounts and that a more detailed analysis and costs would be brought back to this committee at a later date.

The Committee were advised that the original design met Building Control Standards and that some of the additional work was due to requests from the Leisure Centre Operator, Places Leisure. In addition to the amendments approved by the Community Wellbeing & Housing Committee, Officers were asked to look at providing handrails to ensure that customers with disabilities or mobility issues would be able to enter and leave the centre safely.

The Chair advised officers that a list of all additional works and costings needed to be produced and brought to the committee so that additional funding would not be needed in the future.

The Committee requested that a more clear and concise report be brought back to this committee for them to consider the current budget position for the construction of the Eclipse Leisure Centre.

The Committee asked that all future reports in respect of the Eclipse Leisure Centre funding should come straight to the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee but for governance purposes the Terms of Reference for the Community Wellbeing & Housing Committee (CW&HC) would need to be considered when a decision was made as to whether a report needed to be considered by CW&HC before coming before this Committee..

The Committee resolved to reject the updated budget position for the construction of Eclipse Leisure Centre.

To consider the proposed works and additional spend at the Eclipse Leisure Centre.

The Committee received a report from the Strategic Lead, Leisure on proposed works at the Eclipse Leisure Centre to address operational issues which required additional expenditure. The report focused on three main elements including options for sauna coals, the rooflights, and the protection of the turfed area at the front of the building. The need for immediate action was highlighted to address these issues to ensure the leisure centre's full operational status and to avoid potential compensation claims from the operator.

The Committee expressed their disappointment towards the operational matters outlined in the report and noted that the issues should have been foreseen by the Leisure Centre Project team. The Committee also conveyed particular concern regarding the £500 spend per week on a temporary barrier around the rooflight over the swimming pool and emphasised that the permanent solution should be installed promptly. The Strategic Lead, Leisure assured that the Leisure Centre was fully compliant with Building Regulations and had been approved by planners, however the issues arose during the operational phase. The Council had also now placed and order for a permanent barrier to be installed around the rooflight, with works anticipated to commence towards the end of January 2025.

The committee discussed various options for protecting the turfed area. There were suggestions for more environmentally friendly solutions, such as the planting of trees or cherry laurel hedging rather than box hedging as this attracted caterpillar infestation.

The Committee voted on the options in relation to the sauna coals as follows:

Option 1: 11

Option 2: 0

Option 3: 0

Decision: Option 1 carried (Non-Combustible Timber Upstand)

The Committee voted on the options in relation to the grass protection barrier as follows:

Option 1: 0

Option 2: 0

Option 3: 0

Option 4: 11

Decision: Option 4 carried with the amendment to explore alternative hedging options

Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve option one and a budget of £3000 in relation to the sauna coals.

2.    Approve option 4, subject to exploring alternative hedging solutions and a budget of £10,000 in relation to the barrier to protect the turfed area.

3.    Delegate approval of the final solution in relation to the design barrier to protect the turfed area to the Group Head Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee.

The Committee adjourned at 20:23 and readjourned at 20:33.

Councillor Brennan left the meeting at 20:33.