Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 24, 2025

Purpose: 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.  

Content: 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 24th February 2025.