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Consideration was given to proposals in respect
of replacement of the Angel Leisure Centre in Tonbridge with a new
state-of-the-art leisure and community facility located in the town
centre area.
 
When considering the
recommendation from the Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board on
the selected location for the replacement leisure centre, Members
recognised that the expertise of the Council’s Leisure
development partner and Masterplanning consultants and the views of
Members to ensure the selected site fit into the broader objectives
of the town centre masterplanning exercise had been taken into
consideration.
 
Members further noted that the
final design of the replacement leisure and community facility
would be developed over the next 12 months and would be reported to
the Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board in due course, subject to
public consultation and planning approval.
 
While noting from the capital plan evaluation
attached at Annex 2 that the overall project cost to build a
replacement leisure centre was estimated to be significant and
would represent the largest investment in a project by the Borough
Council, Members also acknowledged that there would be option for
the Borough Council to discontinue with the project after each of
the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stages should such
a need arise within the context of the Local Government
Reorganisation programme and the approval being sought at this
stage was for financial commitment to meet the cost for RIBA Stage
2 only.
 
Concern was
raised by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing on the
estimated cost for the project as identified by the feasibility
study undertaken during RIBA Stage 1 and it was recognised that in
order to fund the project, external borrowing would have to be
considered alongside utilising reserves as part of the funding
options, although efforts was being made and would continue to be
made within the Borough Council to minimise the need for external
borrowing and maximise the value for money to arise from the
project.  In addition, Members were
advised that negotiation with the Tonbridge and Malling Leisure
Trust, being the agreed operator of the new leisure centre, was
underway in respect of a capital contribution and revised service
fees in favour of the Borough Council as part of the wider
discussion with regard to a potential contract extension, in
anticipation of an uplift in projected net revenue based on
forecasted increase in latent demand.
 
Cabinet had due
regard to the financial and value for money considerations, risk
assessment and legal implications and reinforced the necessity for
additional and tight control to be put in place to enable Cabinet
to monitor the entire process of the project to ensure best value
for money was achieved with prudent spend of taxpayers’
money.
 
Cllr M Boughton proposed,
seconded by Cllr M Coffin and Cabinet
 
RESOLVED:  That
 

(1)         
the Sovereign Way Mid Car Park be selected as the site location for
the new Leisure Centre;
 

(2)         
the timeline for the project as shown in Annex 5, be noted, subject
to the timeline being amended to reflect that following each Royal
Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage the Cabinet Member for
Climate Change, Regeneration and Property, in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing and the Cabinet Member for
Community Services, be asked to confirm agreement to move on to the
next RIBA stage;
 

(3)         
subject to approval of the project by full Council, the appointment
of Alliance Leisure Services Ltd as the Borough Council’s
leisure development partner to progress the project through the
RIBA Stages, be approved;
 

(4)         
negotiations with the Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust be
commenced by the Chief Executive of the Borough Council regarding a
capital contribution and an ongoing annual contribution to the
project and draft Heads of Terms be brought forward by the Chief
Executive; and
 

(5)         
£400,000 be transferred from the Borough
Council’s Climate Change Reserve to the earmarked reserve for
the Angel Leisure Centre replacement.
 
RECOMMENDED*:  That
 

(1)         
List C Capital Plan Evaluation for the replacement
Angel Leisure Centre scheme, at set out in Annex 2, be transferred
to List A of the Capital Plan.
 
*Recommended to
Council