Decision

(i) that the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm agrees to accept a grant to the value of £10,000 from Sport England and delegate responsibility for entering into a funding agreement to the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health); and
(ii) subject to (i) above, that the current agreement with SLC Consultants to complete a feasibility study, is amended to include the appraisal of an additional option for a repurposing/refurbishment of Clacton Leisure Centre to house an Active Wellbeing Centre.

Reasons for the decision

Following a procurement exercise, in August 2024, the Council appointed SLC Consultants to complete a feasibility study on an Active Wellbeing Centre, at an original project cost of £50,523.
Since the study was commissioned and work commenced, Government has announced an intention to undertake a process of Local Government Reform (LGR), and ‘Greater Essex’ has submitted an interim plan developed by all 15 councils, including Tendring District Council, and the Office of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. The outcome of this, is likely to result in the current landscape of local government changing within three years and Tendring District Council, together with other district, borough and city councils in Essex being replaced by a series of unitary authorities.
Due to these timescales, it is unlikely that following completion of the feasibility study there will be sufficient time for Tendring District Council to take a decision on the proposed Active Wellbeing Centre and this is more likely to be determined by an incoming Unitary Authority. Indeed, timescales set out by Government show that a shadow authority would be in place by 2027, with new Unitary Authorities replacing the existing organisations in 2028.
As this is identified as a key risk for this project, in order to provide the best chances of success for the proposed Active Wellbeing Centre, an additional option is now considered appropriate within the feasibility study for a repurposed/refurbished Clacton Leisure Centre. This would consider the implications of a repurposed facility together with that of a new build, to further inform decision makers of the most appropriate route to take, in terms of operations, community impact, financial implications (capital and revenue) together with the associated risks.
Note: All other background information on the Active Wellbeing Centre is attached to this decision

Alternative options considered

Not to extend the feasibility study: Increasing the options available to decision makers for this project, is likely to increase the chances of success. Presenting additional options with scalable capital/revenue costs, would provide further detail following LGR and allow an informed decision to be taken.