Agenda item

Purpose

To provide the cabinet member with an update on the progress made towards securing the future provision of a new swimming pool in the south east of the city.

This will likely either be by rebuilding Eastney Swimming Pool, or re-providing a pool nearby.

To provide the cabinet member with an update on the outcome of the structural survey of Eastney Swimming Pool, and of the structural assessment at Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.

To provide the cabinet member with an update on an options appraisal which identifies Bransbury Park as a potential location of a new facility as an alternative to the option to rebuild Eastney Swimming Pool on its existing site.

Recommendations

1.    That officers widen the scope of the £100,000 capital allocation which originally was for 'feasibility and outline planning for a new Eastney swimming pool'. Instead, the scope will be 'feasibility and outline planning for the continued provision of a swimming pool and dry-side sports offer in south east Portsmouth'. There will be several options to consider to achieve this, including re-building facilities on the existing sites of Wimbledon Park Sports Centre and Eastney Swimming Pool, but also the building a new combined pool and sports centre. The combined pool and sports centre could be on the site of the existing Eastney Community Centre at Bransbury Park (this would include a new community centre), or it could be on another site in the south east of the city if an alternative is found.

2.    That officers report back to the Cabinet Member by mid-January 2021 with a full options appraisal having consulted with existing users of both Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre as well as the wider community.

3.    That the council's administration looks to find funding for the provision of a new pool and sports centre to be included in the 2021/22 capital budget in February 2021.

David Moorman, Strategic Development Manager introduced the report.  He added that engagement to the consultation had been high with 1500-1600 participants responding in the first month.  The consultation closes on 13 December 2020.  It was intended that a full options appraisal report would be brought to the next Culture, Leisure and Economic Development meeting on 5 February 2021. 

Councillor Graham Heaney had requested to make a deputation as ward councillor for St Jude and Councillor Pitt invited him to speak.  Deputations are not included in the minutes but can be viewed on the livestream on the following link

Culture, Leisure and Economic Development, 11 December 2020 on Livestream

Councillor Heaney had a number of questions regarding the future of Wimbledon Park Sports Centre site and future consultation.  He felt that it was important to have a process where all the ward councillors and members of the public are involved.

In response to this David Moorman said that if there is to be a new leisure centre there needs to be a way of paying for it and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre is regarded as a potential valuable asset.  Officers had been giving some thought as to what might go on the site but it is currently very early in the process. He believed there was the opportunity for consultation on sites and would check this with colleagues. 

Councillor Pitt said that it was currently very early on in the process and officers do not know the outcome of the consultation.  All of the key stakeholders had been identified and spoken to and he would like to do a larger community consultation around the area affected.  Councillors and the public will be fully engaged and as soon as the outcome of the consultation is known Councillor Pitt and officers will start looking at the next steps.  He thanked Councillor Heaney and said that his views would be most welcomed. 

In response to questions from the opposition members the following points were clarified:

·         David Moorman had been in contact with the badminton club and Hampshire Badminton who were concerned that it would represent the loss of a facility.  However officers do not yet know what the outcome of the consultation which will have the answers as to which way to go forward with the clubs.  If there are any changes proposed officers would then speak to existing users of both sites to understand their needs. Sports England would also need to see engagement with the local community to establish the need in order to fund new facilities.

·         BH Live are engaged with the British Bangladeshi community who use the Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.

·         The opportunity at Bransbury Park will be to use the site of the existing buildings and potentially some of the sports courts but to retain a multi-use games area and artificial sports pitch.  The miniature railway would not move and the children's play area would remain, but may need to be redesigned. Councillor Pitt's preferred option would be to retain all of the existing trees on site. 

·         There may not be the option for Eastney swimming pool to reopen due to its condition as it is not safe. Wimbledon Park Sports Centre could reopen in the short term whilst a new facility is built. 

Opposition members agreed that it was important to work with local residents and ward councillors going forward.

Members thanked David Moorman for all his hard work and said that he is trying to engage with every stakeholder.

DECISIONS:

(1) That officers widen the scope of the £100,000 capital allocation which originally was for 'feasibility and outline planning for a new Eastney swimming pool'. Instead, the scope will be 'feasibility and outline planning for the continued provision of a swimming pool and dry-side sports offer in south east Portsmouth'. There will be several options to consider to achieve this, including re-building facilities on the existing sites of Wimbledon Park Sports Centre and Eastney Swimming Pool, but also the building a new combined pool and sports centre. The combined pool and sports centre could be on the site of the existing Eastney Community Centre at Bransbury Park (this would include a new community centre), or it could be on another site in the south east of the city if an alternative is found.

(2) That officers report back to the Cabinet Member by mid-January 2021 with a full options appraisal having consulted with existing users of both Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre as well as the wider community.

(3) The cabinet member endorsed the inclusion of this scheme within the council's overall capital strategy.