Agenda item

Cabinet has instructed officers, working with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, to assess Fenland’s leisure centres and develop a planned investment programme to ensure that the facilities are fit for purpose for the future in line with the Council’s Inspire programme. The report highlights costs of potential projects covering all four leisure facilities in Chatteris, Wisbech, March and Whittlesey and offers Cabinet suggested options to move work forwards. 

Members considered the Leisure Facility Strategy – Initial Assessment Phase report proposed by Councillor Miscandlon.

Councillor Tierney commented that he is glad this Council is protecting the leisure centres when so many others are closing. Although members cannot affect what a future council might do, at least Fenland’s leisure centres will be handed over in good shape.

Councillor Boden commented on the prospects for the Whittlesey Rifle Club. He has asked the club to meet with officers to see if the Council can assist in meeting their ambition to become a regional centre of excellence. Councillor Boden advised that shooting is a valid and valued sport which provides a lot of benefit despite being vilified by some; it is a sport open to people regardless of their physical ability and promotes good mental health. Councillor Mrs Laws stated that the club tutors various age groups, it deals with responsibilities and supports many forces veterans by opening up their social circle. Councillor Benney said it is commendable to see a council pushing to have a rifle club when nationally central government is clamping down and taking away freedom of choice, we live in a rural area, and this is part of rural life. He supports anything that will encourage the rifle range, it teaches safe use of firearms, and furthermore it will help support the gun shop in Whittlesey and rural sports in general. Councillor Boden added that the rifle club are also aware of the competitive side of laser guns and what they are putting forward will include those as well.

Councillor Tierney pointed out the potential for a new swimming pool in Chatteris and the importance of children learning to swim so he is looking forward to seeing the public response to that news. Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Anne Hay for pushing this plan forward as she had been emphatic in her desire to see a pool in Chatteris as one of the Fenland Inspire! projects. Councillor Benney added that the lack of a pool in Chatteris has been mentioned numerous times so he welcomes this news, a pool for Chatteris residents will be a lasting legacy, and he looks forward to seeing it come to fruition.

Proposed by Councillor Miscandlon, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED:

Conditions Survey Work

·         That condition survey work across the leisure facilities remains necessary and should remain funded within the capital programme. 5-year costs are estimated to be £9.155m.

·         To instruct the S151 Officer to make continued provision for condition survey work by adding an additional £7m into the capital programme in the next three years, adjusted as necessary to be included within other leisure capital project options detailed below.

Manor Leisure Centre

·         To progress the Manor Leisure Centre significant refurbishment project, detailed in the report, to RIBA Stage 3 at a cost of £276,775, with Cabinet authorising the S151 Officer to add this additional sum and any other relevant expenditure into the Council’s capital programme in 2025/26 including the rifle range and sports hall options. 

·         That RIBA Stage 4 be completed concurrently with RIBA 3 at an additional cost of £349,688 and authorise the S151 Officer to add this additional cost and any other relevant expenditure into the Council’s capital programme in 2025/26 including any additional RIBA 3/4 costs related to the rifle range and sports hall options.

·         To note that upon completion of RIBA Stage 4 a report will be developed offering options for Cabinet to recommend to Full Council to either proceed with construction works or halt the project. Currently construction costs are estimated at £13.49m for the facility (including the rifle range and sports hall options) and could proceed in 2026/27. If Council decides not to proceed with construction, then the RIBA 3 and 4 costs will revert to revenue.

Chatteris Leisure Centre

·         To approve refurbishment work of the facility and authorise the S151 Officer to add an additional £50,000 into the Council’s capital programme for these works in 2025/26.

·         To consider carefully the Chatteris Swimming Pool project and if the capital costs are acceptable, authorise the S151 Officer to add an additional £164,482 into the capital programme to develop the Chatteris Swimming Pool project to RIBA Stage 0-2. Cabinet to note this is a capital cost, but should the project not proceed past this point, then this expenditure would revert back to a revenue cost.

George Campbell Leisure Centre

·         To approve to fund short-term projects for the George Campbell Leisure Centre and authorise the S151 Officer to add an additional £390,000 into the Council’s capital programme for these works.

·         To note, in addition to the short-term projects above, condition survey works will continue at the site at a cost in the region of £2.5m.

Hudson Leisure Centre

·         To authorise the S151 Officer to add an additional £450,000 into the capital programme for 2025/26 for the development of three external covered floodlit padel courts at the Hudson Leisure Centre.

·         To consider whether to instruct officers to develop estimated costs for each of the non-condition survey, short-term, Hudson projects identified, namely:

o   Adapt the multi-function space that is currently used for spinning into an assisted fitness and older persons health and wellbeing space

o   The current gym has unused spare space at the end of the gym – this has potential for conversion into activity rooms for box fit, circuit training and spin

·         To instruct officers and the Portfolio Holder for Leisure to bring to Cabinet further refurbishment options for the Hudson Leisure Centre considering:

o   The addition of a kitchen space to generate additional revenue from soft play and soft play parties

o   Remodelling of access to the sports hall and possible soft play improvements to generate increased community use and revenue

o   Further uses for the sports hall that would generate additional revenue, linked with the new café/kitchen

o   External entrance and reception improvements.

And AGREED to note that agreement to pursue any of the projects above is subject to Full Council approval of the Budget on 24^th February 2025.