Agenda item

Key Decision

Councillor Kier Barsby – Portfolio Holder for Health and Leisure

RESOLVED that

a)    the progress in appointing a new Leisure Operating Contractor for the period of April 2021 onwards for a duration of 10 years with a Council retained ability to extend for a further 5 years, be noted;

b)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager, the Leader and the Deputy Leader (Inward focus) to enter the Council into contract with the successful tenderer for the construction of the new Kirkby Leisure Centre;

c)    delegated authority be also granted to the Director of Place and Communities in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager, the Leader and the Deputy Leader (Inward focus) to enter the Council into contract with the successful tender for the enabling works package of initial capital works onsite;

d)    the Council continues to work with the current leisure operator SLM and delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities, in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager (and Section 151 Officer), the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, to support ongoing operations until the new contract commences in April 2021.

Cabinet were updated in terms of the progress regarding the Leisure Transformation Programme including the procurement of a new Operating Contractor and the due diligence progress towards the development of the new Leisure Centre in Kirkby which will replace the Festival Hall. Approval was also sought to enter into a suitable build contract following the completion of the ongoing tender process.

Due to confirmation from the Government that council leisure centres could reopen (from August 2020 onwards), a phased approach was adopted in relation to the pandemic i.e. social distancing and limited availability of activities.  To ensure ongoing support to leisure centres during the next few months, Cabinet were requested to delegate authority to the Director of Place and Communities to support operations until the new contract commenced in April 2021.

Members considered the alternative options of deciding whether to continue supporting the procurement of a new Leisure Operating Contractor, the potential operation of the leisure centres in-house and to cease continuation of providing a new leisure centre within Kirkby.  None of these options were recommended.

RESOLVED that

a)    the progress in appointing a new Leisure Operating Contractor for the period of April 2021 onwards for a duration of 10 years with a Council retained ability to extend for a further 5 years, be noted;

b)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager, the Leader and the Deputy Leader (Inward focus) to enter the Council into contract with the successful tenderer for the construction of the new Kirkby Leisure Centre;

c)    delegated authority be also granted to the Director of Place and Communities in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager, the Leader and the Deputy Leader (Inward focus) to enter the Council into contract with the successful tender for the enabling works package of initial capital works onsite;

d)    the Council continues to work with the current leisure operator SLM and delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities, in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager (and Section 151 Officer), the Leader and Deputy Leader (Inward Focus), to support ongoing operations until the new contract commences in April 2021.

Reasons:

1.    Council officers continue to progress with the procurement of the leisure operating contractor and the current programme will see them appointed in good time to achieve contract start in April 2021. The procurement of this is being completed in conjunction with the development of the new leisure centre at Kirkby in Ashfield.

2.    The Leisure Centre development at Kirkby has already achieved Planning Permission and has concluded design to RIBA 4 stage. The works are currently out to tender and it is anticipated that works will commence in Q3 of the 2020/21 financial year.

3.    Previous reports for the development of the leisure centre have enabled officers to progress with the appointment of the design team and to commence the procurement process. The report requests further approvals to appoint the successful tenderer to construct and complete the new leisure centre development.

4.    The timing of the tender return (17th September) and then completion of the necessary due diligence will fall between applicable governance meetings at the Council and delegated authority to the Director of Place and Communities, Corporate Finance Manager, the Portfolio Holder and the Leader and Deputy Leader (Inward Focus), is sought to ensure continuing momentum with this development.