Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies of absence received at this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Leisure and Community  Scrutiny Panel meeting held on the 05 June 2019.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel meeting held on the 05 June 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman made the following announcement: -

Before we start the meeting, I would like to run through how things will proceed.

Item 6 on the agenda is the Design and Costs for the Remodelling Ferneham Hall. Officers will run through a presentation detailing the proposed design and costs. At this stage I would like to stress that Members are not being asked for their approval but for comments on the Design and Costs which will be passed to the Executive for consideration for the 07 October 2019.

Item 7 provides details of the Award of Contract for the new operator of Ferneham Hall (Entertainment Venue). This presentation contains exempt information meaning this part of the meeting will likely be held in private session. At this point I will read a short paragraph outlining the reasons for going into private session, for the Panel to then formally agree that all members of the public and press will be required to leave.

To receive and declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations received at this meeting.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Leisure and Community outlining in detail the concept design and budget costs for remodelling Ferneham Hall.

The Panel received a presentation delivered by the Director of Leisure and Community and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer detailing the proposed concept design and estimated costs for the remodelling of Ferneham Hall.

At the agreement of the Chairman, Councillor R H Price joined in discussions on this item and asked for confirmation that the stage in the main auditorium would be fully accessible to persons with mobility issues. The Director of Leisure and Community confirmed that this important aspect of the design would be investigated further before any plans were finalised.

The Panel all agreed that overall, they were happy with the concept design with the main points of discussion being around; disabled access, energy efficiency and the use of space and facilities for the community.

Members of the Panel thanked officers for their hard work on progressing the Ferneham Hall Vision to this stage.

The presentation is appended to these Minutes.

RESOLVED that the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel considered the contents of the presentation and pass to the Executive their comments that the design should: -

(a)  have disabled access throughout;

(b)  ensure carbon neutrality wherever possible; and

(c)  adequate space and facilities be made available for use by the community.

To enable the Panel to discuss the exempt information contained in item 7, we need to consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public and representatives of the press for this item on the grounds that the matter to be dealt with under item 7 of the agenda involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 the Public and Press were excluded, as the Panel considered that it is not in the public interest to consider the matters in public on the grounds that they will involve the disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 5 of Part 1 of the schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Leisure and Community outlining details of the procurement exercise, tender evaluations and preferred operator for the remodelled entertainment venue.

The Panel received a presentation delivered by the Director of Leisure and Community, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Robin Thompson of RPT Consulting, detailing the procurement process awarding the contract for the operator of the remodelled entertainment venue.

The Chairman asked for confirmation that the Pantomime would continue. The Director of Leisure and Community addressed the Panel and explained that the Pantomime was a non-negotiable aspect of the contract.

RESOLVED that the Panel considered the contents of the presentation with no comments to be passed to the Executive.

To consider any items of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel, that fall under the remit of the Leisure and Community  Portfolio. This will include any decisions taken by individual Members during the same time period.

No comments were received.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the Scrutiny Panel priorities for Leisure and Community.

The Chairman invited Members to consider the Scrutiny Priorities for the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel.

The Chairman confirmed to the Panel that the next meeting of the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel would be held on the 21 October 2019 and a report detailing the Award of Contract for the Leisure Centres would be brought to the Panel.

RESOLVED that the Panel considered the Scrutiny Priorities for the Leisure and Community Portfolio.