Issue - meetings

Purpose

(1)  To provide the cabinet member with the results of the sports and leisure consultation that took place in November and December 2020 which shows strong support for a new community leisure centre to combine the existing facilities at Eastney Swimming Pool, and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.

(2)  To provide the cabinet member with a draft options appraisal for the replacement of Eastney Swimming Pool including the development of a new community leisure centre.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That officers undertake further focused consultation with facility users and sports clubs to determine the right facility mix for a new community leisure centre at Bransbury Park.

(2)  That officers continue to work up a full financial appraisal for this project.

(3)  That officers engage with Sport England to prepare a bid to their Strategic Facilities Fund to obtain up to a £2m grant to contribute to a new community leisure centre.

David Moorman, Strategic Development Manager introduced the report.

David started by explaining that this report followed on from the report that came to the last cycle of meetings and followed up on the instruction to report back by early 2021 with an options appraisal, having consulted the users of the Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, Eastney Swimming Pool and the wider community. 

Members were asked to refer to Appendix D which was presented to the Local Government Seminar on the future of sports and physical activity. The Appendix showed the operational performance over the past 5 years to 2020 and highlighted that only facilities that offer combined (wet and dry offers) were able to operate sustainably.

Following the consultation that was carried out in November and December which was conducted by an online survey, of the 1800 responses 63% were in favour of using the money that would have to be spent on Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre for a new community centre at Bransbury Park instead.

In response to questions from the opposition members David Moorman confirmed that leaflets informing residents about the consultation were sent out to the whole city (all residential addresses) and that it was his understanding that they went through every door. He also said that he would get in touch with colleagues to see how this could be verified. The largest response from residents was from the PO4 area which immediately surrounds the proposed site. David said he was aware of the concerns from some residents and emphasised that  time would be taken to consult everyone involved. Responses had been given to residents who had made contact and David emphasised that this was very early in the process and that there would be plenty of opportunity for residents to have their feelings heard.

Councillor Pitt said that from this report and the previous report it is abundantly clear that the Eastney Swimming Pool cannot be reopened without an unsustainable amount of money being invested. Even with this investment Eastney Swimming Pool would continue to make a loss going forward.

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development agreed:

1. That officers undertake further focused consultation with facility users and sports clubs to determine the right facility mix for a new community leisure centre at Bransbury Park.

2. That officers continue to work up a full financial appraisal for this project.

3. That officers engage with Sport England to prepare a bid to their Strategic Facilities Fund to obtain up to a £2m grant to contribute to a new community leisure centre.