Minutes:
The Board considered a written report that had been prepared by the Chairman of the Leisure Provision Task Group, Councillor C. J. Spencer, for Members’ consideration in her absence. This report outlined the group’s findings during a recent meeting when they had pre-scrutinised the business case report for the Dolphin Centre.
The following matters were highlighted during the Board’s consideration of this report:
· Members had invited the Task Group to pre-scrutinise the business case on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Board at their previous meeting in April 2014.
· In the business case Officers were suggesting that the new centre would operate at a surplus compared to the current deficit at the Dolphin Centre.
· It was anticipated that membership of the gym would increase from 1,050 to 1,700 which would be commensurate with membership figures at other Council run leisure centres.
· Changes would be made to the swimming pool facilities. Whilst the size of the main pool would remain 25m x 6m the smaller children’s pool would have a moveable floor and the seating around the main pool for gala events would be reduced.
· The Task Group had felt strongly that there needed to be sufficient provision of services and facilities to meet the needs of customers with various disabilities. This included suitable parking provision to enable customers with disabilities and, in some cases, their carers, to alight from their vehicles safely.
· Parking provision at the venue had been discussed and it had been acknowledged that there would be a need to charge for parking at the site. Members had been keen to ensure that sufficient space was provided for minibuses and coaches in the car park.
The Task Group had had some concerns that if a Sports Hall was not included in the plans there would be limited choice of such facilities available for local leisure groups to use in the district. In addition, concerns were raised that following an increase in hire charges for use of the Sports Hall at the Ryland Centre many sports groups would be deterred from meeting in the district in future if a sports hall was not included in the plans for the new leisure centre. Members were advised that Sports England had concluded that there was sufficient Sports Hall provision in the area and that this did not therefore need to form part of the council’s plans. Whilst a decision remained to be taken on the final range of facilities that would be available at the centre the Board was informed that there was also an option available for the Council to refer customers to an adjourning facility and the ability to “purchase” block bookings at this sports hall by the Council and sub let that space.
The prudential borrowing arrangements proposed for the centre had caused Members of the Task Group some concern as it was being suggested this be set at the maximum figure permitted of £9.5 million. The questions that had been raised by some Councillors at Council meetings regarding the capital project costs had also been considered. For these reasons the group felt that the Audit Board should investigate the figures further and the process that had been followed to ensure that the budget proposals were appropriate.
The process that had been followed to identify local leisure needs was briefly discussed. The Board was advised that a significant part of this assessment had been based on feedback received from customers to a leisure provision survey that had been distributed around the district in 2010. This survey had found that many people only visited Bromsgrove when they attended the Dolphin Centre. In most cases customers were only prepared to travel 5 – 10 miles to access leisure facilities and for this reason some residents living in some parts of the district might be more inclined to use leisure facilities managed by a neighbouring local authority.
The range of customers who utilised facilities at the Dolphin Centre were also briefly considered by the Board. The Board was advised that in terms of the customers, the level of usage of the facilities and the age range of members at the Dolphin Centre was one of the busiest leisure venues in the district. One attraction of the Dolphin Centre to potential customers was that the facilities were available to use on a “pay and play” basis and housed both wet and dry activities under one roof. However, Members were concerned that if there was a reduction in the facilities currently available at the Centre, or no additional facilities added as an incentive to visit the new Dolphin Centre, then the new Centre may not be able to maintain the current level of popularity and loose customers to other facilities throughout both Worcestershire and surrounding areas. It was important therefore to ensure that there was scope for additional facilities to be added at a later stage.
The current condition of the Dolphin Centre was discussed by the Board. Members were advised that the building was safe for both staff and customers to use, however, the design of the centre was not ideal. Whilst a refurbishment of the venue had been completed relatively recently the works that had been undertaken had been largely cosmetic. The Centre continued to be inspected n a regular basis. Officers had assessed the potential to further refurbish the Dolphin Centre to improve the leisure service offer in the district for customers. Based on the data available they had concluded that it would be more expensive to undertake these works than to build a new leisure centre.
In the long-term it was anticipated that a café would open in the new leisure centre. However, it was likely that when the venue initially opened this space would be filled with vending machines. Members were advised that an attempt would be made to secure healthy food options and to make the café area an attractive in order that the leisure venue would become both a social and a sporting hub in the local area.
Members noted that consideration of the business case formed part of a wider review of leisure service provision in the district by the Task Group. The group was aiming to visit other leisure venues in order to observe arrangements in place in other parts of the country.
RECOMMENDED that
1. financial concerns around the increased membership that will be needed to ensure good annual revenue should be addressed through an Audit Board investigation of the figures; and
2. the Overview and Scrutiny Board should be involved in scrutinising more detailed plans to ensure that they address the needs of customers with disabilities.
3. Cabinet note the Board’s disappointment that the Sports Hall has not been included within the plan for the new Dolphin Centre;
4. Cabinet note the Board’s concern that insufficient facilities have been planned for the centre, especially for young people (i.e. no climbing wall as has been installed in other leisure centres).
RESOLVED that a copy of the business case be circulated for the consideration by Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and substitute Members present at the meeting.