Agenda item

To update Cabinet regarding progress of the Manor Leisure Centre redevelopment project. 

AGREED to:

·       Note the report and the progress of this important community project.

·       Note the significant financial situation that the Council faces and pay close attention to the financial assessment section of this report.

·       Note and consider that potential cost mitigation measures that could be taken to reduce the overall project costs as identified in Section 11 of the report.

·       Approve the footprint at Appendix 1 of the report in order that the substantive elements of the footprint remain fixed allowing the project to progress smoothly through RIBA stages 3 and 4 and the planning process.

·       Note that the Council is working with Sport England to secure supportive funding that will offset design improvements required by Sport England that have enhanced initial designs.

Members considered the Manor Leisure Centre – Fenland Inspire! Redevelopment Project Update report presented by Councillor Count.

·         Councillor Count said that this is the largest single project that FDC has committed to and he thanked officers, Sports England and members of the public for their engagement with this project.

·         Councillor Mrs Laws commented that the Manor is well used but in a deteriorating state of repair and the growing population of Whittlesey needs a wider range of sporting facilities. She said the café area should be promoted and the addition of the air rifle range is welcomed, furthermore it is pleasing to see a catering kitchen being added which will encourage the site to be used as an events facility. She thanked the past and present portfolio holder and officers for their work to bring this forward.

·         Councillor Tierney commented that it had been refreshing to see so much public engagement having followed discussions on Whittlesey social media; this is how it should be done and is a good sign going forward.

·         Councillor Boden congratulated all involved in getting to this stage. He agreed there had been much healthy debate about the project and changes made based on community feedback. He pointed out one aspect of debate on social media and that was the suggestion that there could be mixed gender changing rooms, but he said that had never been proposed.

·         Councillor Count advised that Sport England had made some design improvements which are included in the proposal but if they do not come up with the funding, then these improvements may not take place at all, or only in part. He said there will be no mixed changing rooms, but there would be private facilities for individuals, some two-person size for parent/child use, larger family spaces and the inclusion of two larger facilities for schools; all of which would be lockable and secure. However, the area is slightly changing, and the team are looking at increasing visibility from the poolside area, with some fine tuning such as the possibility of an all gender changing room covered in section 8.3 of the report. The proposal matches both the Sports England design specification and what is currently provided at the Hudson and George Campbell leisure centres. Further engagement is being undertaken, and information will be on the FDC website; if people submit an email address they will be given automatic updates rather than having to wait for a press release. He thanked Councillor Mrs Laws for her support and for drawing attention to the need for a commercial catering kitchen which has now been included.

·         Councillor Hoy said this is an amazing facility for Whittlesey and the upgrade is well needed. However, the Council must listen to peoples’ concerns regarding mixed gender changing rooms. Some people do not feel confident or comfortable in such an environment and concerns must be addressed as far as possible.

·         Councillor Mrs Laws agreed that this is a difficult subject to address, one of the positive aspects of a village-style facility is that half could be closed for cleaning, leaving the other half open. The cleaning staff are mostly female, and in the evenings, they have to wait until late for the men to finish changing before they can enter the area to complete their work.

·         Councillor Count agreed that cleanliness was the most commented upon element of the community engagement and steps are being taken to address all aspects of concern regarding the changing rooms as it is important to listen to and respect the views submitted. He repeated that this is the largest project undertaken by the Council, but it is also extremely complex, trying to keep facilities running at the same time and he would like to commend and highlight the work being undertaken by Phil Hughes as Head of Leisure and Open Spaces.

Proposed by Councillor Count, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to:

·         Note the report and the progress of this important community project.

·         Note the significant financial situation that the Council faces and pay close attention to the financial assessment section of this report.

·         Note and consider that potential cost mitigation measures that could be taken to reduce the overall project costs as identified in Section 11 of the report.

·         Approve the footprint at Appendix 1 of the report in order that the substantive elements of the footprint remain fixed allowing the project to progress smoothly through RIBA stages 3 and 4 and the planning process.

·         Note that the Council is working with Sport England to secure supportive funding that will offset design improvements required by Sport England that have enhanced initial designs.