Decision details

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report on the direction of travel for Fanshawe and Leventhorpe pools and gyms, which considered the views expressed from the public consultation and petition responses.  He also invited Council to consider the options of delivery for the two schools who owned their leisure facilities.

He reminded Members of the report considered by Council at its previous meeting on 18 July 2017, and reiterated that the Strategy did not refer to the closure of any pools.  He detailed the consultation responses and the work that had been ongoing in continuing to explore options with schools, the community and the market for the future operation of the leisure centres.  The Council recognised that variant bids from the market was a viable option but that the uncertainty of Education Funding Agency funding remained a risk until a new contract that was commercially viable had been established.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing moved, and Councillor M Freeman seconded, the recommendations as detailed in the report submitted.

Council approved the recommendations now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Council commits to acting as a facilitator to help Chauncy School and Leventhorpe School explore alternative ways to maintain their leisure facilities;

(B)      bidders being invited to submit variant bids for the new leisure contract to include options for the future operation of Fanshawe and Leventhorpe Pools and Gyms should long term Council funding be unviable, be noted;

(C)      the operational delivery of Fanshawe and Leventhorpe Pools and Gyms being included in the new leisure contract specification for up to 5 years, subject to each School’s ability to contribute 40% of all costs, be noted; and

(D)      subject to the outcome of (A) and (B), the decisions on capital funding for Leventhorpe and Fanshawe Pools and Gyms be considered post tender evaluation.