Issue - meetings

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services to consider requests for the release of funding for three Medium Term Plan Schemes.

  Agreed to release the relevant funding to support the building of a new football pavilion at Priory Park, St. Neots and the appointment of a new part-time Environmental Health and Safety (Housing) Officer;and

  Agreed not to consider a request to release funds towards preparatory work for the proposed expansion of the Impression Suite at Huntingdon Leisure Centre until the submission of a further report to the meeting of the Cabinet on 11^th January 2007 outlining the implications of preparing a business plan for the scheme and a business plan for all the Leisure Centres and Impressions fitness suites thereafter together with proposals for the future delivery of leisure services as a whole.

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet considered requests for the release of funding from the Medium Term Plan. 

In considering a request to release £25,000 towards the initial tender process and preparatory work on a scheme to extend the Impressions Fitness Suite at Huntingdon Leisure Centre, Executive Councillors expressed concern that an appropriate business plan for the scheme should be submitted as a pre-requisite to the release of any funding for this project.  Having referred also to the recent findings of a condition survey of the five Leisure Centres in the District undertaken as part of the Medium Term Plan process and the perceived need to review future leisure service provision, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the relevant funding be released to support the building of a new football pavilion at Priory Park, St. Neots and the appointment of a new part-time Environmental Health and Safety (Housing) Officer; and

  (b)  that the request to release funds towards preparatory work for the proposed expansion of the Impression Suite at Huntingdon Leisure Centre be deferred pending the submission of a further report to a future meeting of the Cabinet outlining the implications of preparing a business plan for the scheme; and

  (c)  that a further report be submitted to Cabinet addressing the perceived requirement for a business plan covering all the Leisure Centres and Impressions fitness suites, and the issues associated with potential options for the delivery of leisure services in the future.