Decision details

This report seeks additional project funding to enable the contract for the construction of the new Western Wards Leisure Centre to be awarded.

At the meeting on 7 April 2014, the Executive approved a provisional budget of £7 million to construct a new Leisure Centre at Coldeast.

A further £1 million had previously been approved in the open spaces improvement programme for the provision of sports pitches and associated infrastructure at Coldeast.

The Executive noted that additional resources would need to be identified and allocated to fund the construction of the road junction with Barnes Lane, the access road to serve the swimming pool, the cemetery, allotments and construction of a new community building.

In July 2014, the Executive established a Project Member Working Group (chaired by Councillor Trevor Cartwright, Deputy Leader) to oversee the delivery of this important project.

In August 2014, following a competitive tendering exercise using the iESE Framework, it was agreed that a Design and Build Contract be awarded to Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Limited to design and build the Western Wards leisure centre, sports pitches and associated infrastructure.

The Members’ Working Group agreed the final design of the leisure centre and layout of the surrounding site for public consultation which took place in October 2014. Detailed planning permission has been secured and the pre-construction phase of the project is now complete.

Officers are now in receipt of the detailed cost plan submitted by Balfour Beatty which has been independently scrutinised and validated by the Council’s appointed employer’s agent.

The Executive is invited to review the cost plan summarised in the attached report and consider allocating additional funding to enable the project to proceed.

Subject to the Executive awarding additional funding, the development is in a position to proceed to the construction phase with works to start in May 2015 and a target opening of July 2016.

In addition, following a recent naming competition involving local school children, the Members’ Steering Group is recommending the new leisure centre be named the “Holly Hill Leisure Centre”.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves an additional capital budget of £2,000,000 to construct the new leisure centre at Coldeast (including the road junction, access road,  and car park);

(b)  approves expenditure of £110,000 from the Open Spaces Improvement programme to construct the new sports pitches;

(c)  approves the award of the construction contract (as the second phase of the design and build contract) to Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Limited to build the new leisure centre, the new road junction, access road, car park and sports pitches;

(d)  agrees that the new Leisure Centre be named the “Holly Hill Leisure Centre”;

(e)  requests officers bring forward a report detailing  the costs,  options and sources of funding to build a new cemetery in the Western Wards; and

(f)   agrees that the minute of the decision for this item be no longer treated as exempt information and be open for public inspection.