FOR CONSIDERATION BY The Executive on 30 October Angus Ross, Executive Member for Environment

Transcription

1 ITEM NO: TITLE Leisure Facility Options Study FOR CONSIDERATION BY The Executive on 30 October 2014 WARD DIRECTOR LEAD MEMBER None specific Heather Thwaites, Director of Environment; Stuart Rowbotham, Director of Health and Wellbeing Angus Ross, Executive Member for Environment OUTCOME I BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY The addition of a new four lane swimming pool in the Arborfield area to the Council's existing portfolio of Leisure facilities will provide :- (a) The additional capacity required to meet the needs of the anticipated growth in Wokingham up to (b) A good geographical spread of facilities across the borough. (c) A new commercially attractive facility that will add value to the Council's existing portfolio of Leisure facilities. RECOMMENDATION That: 1) the Council's preferred location for an additional four lane swimming pool to meet the additional demand created by the Strategic Development Locations (SDLs) is within the Arborfield SOL (alongside the proposed new secondary school) 2) a full business case report is prepared for this proposed new facility and brought back to Executive in due course. SUMMARY OF REPORT The Council's Vision is to make the Borough "a great place to live, an even better place to do business". The provision of accessible, high quality leisure facilities contributes to delivering the Vision by supporting improvements in health outcomes, community cohesion and economic and social wellbeing. A single new 4 Lane 25m Pool (25m x 8.5m) or equivalent is required to meet the additional demand created by the Strategic Development Locations and other new development in the Borough. The three locations considered are: Wokingham Town Centre (Carnival Pool) - The new pool could either be delivered as an extension to the existing pool or through a full rebuild project which might make more efficient use of the land available. Arborfield SOL - The new standalone 4 lane 25m swimminq pool could be built 70

2 in the Arborfield District Centre near to the Secondary School site Bulmershe Leisure Centre - The new pool would need to be delivered through a complete rebuild of the Centre. The Leisure Facility Study suggests that all three options for a new swimming pool facility would be broadly financially viable and each of these options have strengths and weaknesses. In weighing up the options, Arborfield is currently considered the strongest candidate, particularly in relation to its financial viability and the ability to secure a good spread of facilities across the borough. None of the options, other than the Bulmershe option would involve the closure of any existing facilities, and both the Carnival Pool and Arborfield options would not exclude refurbishment or rebuild of Bulmershe Leisure Centre. Once a decision has been made on the location of the new 4 lane 25m swimming pool, the Council will need to consider how it delivers the other required indoor leisure facilities such as sports halls and health and fitness gyms alongside the pool option. 71

3 Background Current Supply of Indoor Leisure Facilities The Council's leisure facilities at Carnival Pool, Loddon Valley Leisure Centre and St. Crispins Leisure Centre are currently managed under contract by C-Salt, supported by Leisure Connection (1 life). The contract was let in 1999 and was recently extended to March 2018 to enable key decisions to be taken on future investment plans. The original contract included substantial joint funding of the swimming pool at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre. It also originally included Ryeish Green Leisure Centre which was closed in 2010 but is now under review in relation to the South of the M4 Strategic Development Location (SOL). The Council's current facilities comprise: Carnival Pool - a 5 lane 25 metre swimming pool with a teaching pool and a 55 station fitness gym. Loddon Valley Leisure Centre - a 6 lane 25 metre swimming pool with a learner pool, an 83 station fitness gym, a 10 court sports hall, aerobics studio, squash courts, a cafe and function rooms. St Crispins Leisure Centre - a 50 station fitness gym, 4 court sports hall and squash courts. The centre is operated as a dual use facility with St Crispins school using the centre during daytime in the school term. The Council also owns Bulmershe Leisure Centre which has been operated on a lease arrangement by Woodley Town Council since The Bulmershe centre comprises a 5 lane 25 metre pool, a 4 court sports hall and a studio. It operates as a dual use facility with Bulmershe secondary school. The lease on the leisure centre is due to end in March Additional Demand for Leisure Facilities The Council's Open Space, Sports and Recreation Strategy was approved in November The strategy sets out the standards to be applied in looking at the additional demand for sport and leisure facilities arising out of population growth. Applying the standards to the projected population growth indicates that the Borough will require the equivalent of a new 25m four lane swimming pool and two to three new 4 court sports halls which may include health and fitness facilities. In the current economic climate the financial sustainability of new or improved facilities will be a key consideration. Consequently any investment proposals need to identify the most effective facility mix across the Borough which supports the Council's strategic outcomes and delivers a positive financial outcome. Consideration of proposals to meet extra demand for indoor leisure facilities should take the following factors into account: The Council's current facilities (including Bulmershe) are popular with year on year improvements in visitor numbers. Loddon Valley Leisure Centre is very busy and the site (next to ASDA in Earley) is too constrained to accommodate any significant extra facilities. Carnival Pool is currently under consideration as part of the proposed leisure 72

4 quarter as part of the Wokingham Town Centre regeneration project. Consultants have been looking at the site and how it can be developed to support town centre regeneration St Crispin's Leisure Centre is a dual use site and is used regularly by the school. The site is too constrained to accommodate significant extra facilities. The former Ryeish Green Leisure Centre is currently closed although reopening the site is currently under consideration to support the South of the M4 SDL. Bulmershe Leisure Centre requires significant investment to bring it up to modern standards and options for the future of the centre are currently being worked on. Sport England has indicated that Bulmershe would be a strong candidate for funding from its Improvement Fund. The Council is currently in the process of transferring Bulmershe Leisure Centre from Woodley Town Council to the Borough Council's leisure contract (CSalt). Analysis of Issues A Leisure Facility Study was commissioned to consider the following issues: Current supply of indoor leisure facilities across the Borough Additional demand for indoor sport and leisure facilities arising out of SDL and non SDL development. Facility options for meeting the additional demand. Advantages and disadvantages of each option. Financial modelling and deliverability of the different options. In relation to the pool, the Leisure Facility Study has considered a number of options and variables but three clear options are apparent for the new 4 lane 25m swimming pool. The three main investment areas to be considered are: Wokingham Town Centre (Carnival Pool) - The new pool could either be delivered as an extension to the existing pool or through a full rebuild project which might make more efficient use of the land available. The following issues have been highlighted: o A commercially attractive facility o A sustainable location with good transport links o Well related to most of the SDL sites o Reduced running costs due to economies of scale o Land is already in Council ownership o Redevelopment could allow for continuity of service (no closure of existing facility during construction) o Would fit in with the Council's aspirations around the Town centre redevelopment. The adopted masterplan for the town centre envisages improved and increased leisure facilities within the town centre through the development of a Leisure Quarter at Carnival Pool, which could include extended swimming facilities 73

5 Arborfield SOL - The new standalone 4 lane 25m swimming pool could be built in the Arborfield District Centre near to the Secondary School site. The following issues have been highlighted: o A commercially attractive facility provided not a standalone facility o A sustainable location with good road links o Well related to the southern SOL sites o Redevelopment could allow for continuity of service (no closure of existing facility during construction) o Would deliver a good spread of facilities across the Borough Bulmershe Leisure Centre - The new pool would need to be delivered through a complete rebuild of the Centre. The following issues have been highlighted: o A commercially neutral facility o Reduced running costs due to economies of scale o Land is already in Council ownership o A good location for delivering Health and Wellbeing priorities (there are higher levels of obesity and deprivation and lower levels of physical activity in the wards adjacent to Bulmershe) o Some distance from the new SOL developments and less sustainable in relation to public transport links. o Redevelopment or renovation of the site is likely to mean temporary closure of the centre for up to 18 months and the delivering all the facilities would be challenging given the site constraints. The statements around commercial attractiveness of the options include likely debt repayment on net capital cost for each of the options. (see appendix 1 - part 2). In weighing up the options, Arborfield is currently considered the strongest candidate, particularly in relation to its financial viability and the ability to secure a good spread of facilities across the borough. Once a decision has been made on the location of the new 4 lane 25m swimming pool, the Council will need to consider how it delivers the other required indoor leisure facilities such as sports halls and health and fitness gyms alongside the pool option. None of the options, other than the Bulmershe option would involve the closure of any existing facilities, and both the Carnival Pool and Arborfield options would not exclude refurbishment or rebuild of Bulmershe Leisure Centre. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECOMMENDATION The Council faces severe financial challenges over the coming years as a result of the austerity measures implemented by the Government and subsequent reductions to public sector funding. It is estimated that Wokingham Borough Council will be required to make budget reductions in excess of 20m over the next three years and all Executive decisions should be made in this context. 74

6 How much will it Is there sufficient Revenue or Cost/ (Save) funding - if not Capital? quantifv the Shortfall Current Financial 0 Year (Year 1) Next Financial Year 0 (Year 2) Following Financial 0 Year (Year 3) Other financial information relevant to the Recommendation/Decision In order to test the viability and sustainability of the facility options the following steps were applied: Identify the facilities available under the option. Determine the likely migration of users to the new facilities. Establish the new facility mix resulting from existing and new users. Assess indicative net additional income on the facility after covering cost of borrowing required Consider the non-financial advantages and disadvantages of each option. Early indications from the Leisure Facility Study (Appendix 1 - part 2) suggest that all three options for the new swimming pool facility would be broadly financially viable (i.e. provide the council with some level of net additional revenue income). Further financial work including a full business case will be undertaken prior to a final decision being taken. Current estimate for a 4 lane swimming pool is 3.15million (Sports Council); the phasing of the delivery of the pool and financing will be determined through negotiations with the developers and S106 funding is currently being collected towards the project. Cross-Council Implications The health and well beini:i ai:ienda will be enhanced throui:ih an additional pool. Reasons for considering the report in Part 2 Appendix 1 contains commercially sensitive financial information List of Background Papers WBC/FMG Leisure Facility Study( 13th May 2014) (this is a part 2 document and therefore not publically available) WBC Health and Wellbeing Strategy WBC Open Space, Sport and Recreation Audit and Strategy Contact Andv Glencross Service Environment Telephone No andv.alencross wokinaham.aov.uk Date 21 October 2014 Version No. 1 75