Decisions

The original Contract with GLL (Sport operator) required them to design and deliver a new build Leisure Centre at Keynsham (originally considered to be on Ashton Way Car Park). This new facility would not have included a Sports Hall or Squash Courts. During the latter stages of the procurement process it became apparent that the Ashton Way site presented numerous challenges, therefore a mandatory variant was built into the contract to all GLL to operate the existing leisure facility for 5 years. Consultation in September 2015 indicated a strong preference for the leisure centre to be developed on the Riverside site. Progression of wider options for the Riverside site have meant that the Council is currently leading on the design and construction of a refurbished facility in consultation with GLL (which aims to provide Sports Hall and Squash facilities). The current DBOM contract with GLL is being amended to 1) implement mandatory variant for GLL to manage existing Keynsham Leisure Centre until July 2021 (long stop date) 2) For the Council to design and deliver the refurbished centre 3) for a planned shut down of the existing centre (which will result in some loss of income) 4) Following completion of works transfer the operation of the centre to GLL (via negotiation). The project is already well underway and this request is to fully approve £250k of CiL funding that has been provisionally approved to help meet the additional costs of the enlarged facility that is being built following public and Cllr consutation.

To fully approve capital amounting to £250k from the provisional capital programme item CiL of £250k.

The Localism Act 2011 has reformed the planning system to give local people new rights to shape the development of the communities in which they live.

The Act provides for a new type of community-led initiative known as a Neighbourhood Development Plan which sets out the policies on the development and use of land in a parish or ‘Neighbourhood Area’.

The Council has a duty to assist communities in the preparation of Neighbourhood Development Plans and orders and to take a Plan through a process of examination and referendum and to bring the Neighbourhood Plan into force. This duty includes making the plan as soon as is reasonably practicable but in any event within 8 weeks after the referendum approving the plan has taken place.