Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Leisure Centres General Manager on the development proposals for St Neots Leisure Centre.

The views of the Overview and Scrutiny (Social Well Being) Panel on the proposals are appended also.

Agreed to release the relevant funding for a scheme to extend and remodel the existing facilities on the St. Neots Leisure Centre and College Campus. 

With the assistance of a report by the Leisure Centre's General Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a proposal to extend and remodel the existing facilities on the St. Neots Leisure Centre and College Campus. 

Having considered the information contained in the report, the need for expansion, projected user and income figures and a supporting business case for the project, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the relevant funding be released for the scheme to extend and remodel the existing facilities on the St. Neots Leisure Centre and College Campus and a further report on its progress submitted to a future meeting .

To consider a report by the Leisure Centres General Manager on the development proposals for St Neots Leisure Centre.

20 Minutes.

(Councillors Mrs D C Reynolds, Executive Councillor for Leisure, A Hansard, Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, and R S Farrer were in attendance for this Item).

With the assistance of a report by the General Manager, Leisure Centres (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were acquainted with details of a proposal to extend and re-model the existing dry sports facility located at St Neots Leisure Centre. Members noted that the proposal was intended to secure the future viability of the Leisure Centre, promote the health of the local people and take advantage of the latent demand, which had been identified for leisure facilities in the area.

Councillor A Hansard welcomed the proposals and suggested that, given the absence of such a facility in the local area and the perceived existing demand, they should incorporate a community hall facility.  Following discussion be Members on this suggestion the view was expressed that Officers should investigate whether such a facility could be incorporated within the plans. 

The Panel discussed the level of car parking facilities available on the site and the impact that an increased number of users of the Centre would have on the facility. In response, the Leisure Centres General Manager reported on the existence of an overflow parking facility which was already available to Leisure Centre users if required.

Having discussed the differing levels of demand placed on the Leisure Centre as a whole during peak and off peak times, a suggestion was made by a Member that the feasibility of charging lower rates to users who were able to use the Centres during off peak times should be investigated. It was further suggested that this might be achieved by offering discounts to customers directly or through a more formal arrangement with local agencies such as Job Centre Plus. 

Councillor R S Farrer drew Members’ attention to the adjacent Sydney Banks Playing Field and an associated contribution towards the cost of building changing rooms for users of the Playing Field. Members noted that the changing rooms referred to had been planned for incorporation within the development proposals for the Leisure Centre, but they expressed concern at the possible impact of their use on the Centre. Comment also was made on the need to clarify parking arrangements for users of the Playing Field. The Executive Councillor for Leisure, together with Officers, undertook to pursue these matters locally.

Having analysed the financial projections and the data on which levels of use of the new facilities had been predicted, the Panel expressed support for the development proposals at St Neots Leisure Centre.

RESOLVED

  that Cabinet be recommended to

  (a)  approve the scheme to extend and re-model the existing dry sports facility located at St Neots Leisure Centre, together with the associated capital expenditure; and

  (b)  take into account the Panel's views on the contents of the report by the General Manager, Leisure Centre.