Issue - meetings

The Leisure Contract preferred bidder has been announced and the Council is now in a position to fully approve:

·  the capital budgets for Bath Leisure Centre refurbishment works;

·  Council costs associated with the delivery of the contract; and

·  Bath Recreation Ground Trust capital works.

The Cabinet are asked:

1)  To fully approve the element of current capital budget of £7.635m for Bath Leisure Centre Refurbishment.

2)  To fully approve the capital budget of £2.0m for potential Council costs associated with the delivery of the contract.

3)  To fully approve the capital budget of £2.0m for Bath Recreation Ground Trust capital works.

4)  To extend the use of the Invest to Save reserve to up to 6 years (rather than the previously approved 4 years) to optimise the smoothing of Council and Leisure Operator costs, and that this be repaid over a period of up to 10 years.

5)  To increase the Leisure base budget by £175kpa to cover the ongoing cost of the annual payment to the Bath Recreation Ground Trust thus increasing the financial pressure on the Council which will need to be considered as a commitment as part of the 2016/17 budget.

Councillor Tim Warren said that this contract has been agreed with the new leisure company that would run leisure centres in Bath and North East Somerset.  It would improve facilities for local residents and support the delivery of Fit for Life Strategy.

Councillor Tim Warren moved the recommendations.

Councillor Charles Gerrish seconded the proposals by saying that the contract with the GLL would deliver an estimated £17m of investment to modernise and upgrade the Council’s leisure centres, starting with Bath Leisure Centre. 

RESOLVED (unanimously):

1)  To fully approve the element of current capital budget of £7.635m for Bath Leisure Centre Refurbishment.

2)  To fully approve the capital budget of £2.0m for potential Council costs associated with the delivery of the contract.

3)  To fully approve the capital budget of £2.0m for Bath Recreation Ground Trust capital works.

4)  To extend the use of the Invest to Save reserve to up to 6 years (rather than the previously approved 4 years) to optimise the smoothing of Council and Leisure Operator costs, and that this be repaid over a period of up to 10 years.

5)  To increase the Leisure base budget by £175kpa to cover the ongoing cost of the annual payment to the Bath Recreation Ground Trust thus increasing the financial pressure on the Council which will need to be considered as a commitment as part of the 2016/17 budget.