Issue - meetings

That Cabinet approved;

1.    The proposal to transfer responsibility for Tring Sports Centre to Tring School in line with the conditions and requirements outlined in this report to enable significant investment in Tring leisure facilities.

2.    Recommendation 1 above is conditional on the successful completion of due diligence and following formal approval from Tring School.   

3.    For DBC to mutually agree to terminate the existing Dual Use Agreement and enter into a new Funding Agreement to reflect the terms as set out in the Cabinet report. This will be undertaken in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer. 

Decision

That Cabinet approved;

1.    The proposal to transfer responsibility for Tring Sports Centre to Tring School in line with the conditions and requirements outlined in this report to enable significant investment in Tring leisure facilities.

2.    Recommendation 1 above is conditional on the successful completion of due diligence and following formal approval from Tring School.   

3.    For DBC to mutually agree to terminate the existing Dual Use Agreement and enter into a new Funding Agreement to reflect the terms as set out in the Cabinet report. This will be undertaken in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer. 

Reason for decision

For Cabinet to review and approve the proposal to transfer responsibility for Tring Sports Centre to Tring School in line with the conditions and requirements outlined in report

Corporate objectives

These reliefs will support the corporate objectives of:

·         Clean, Safe and Enjoyable Environment

and;

·         Modern and Efficient Council

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer comments

Monitoring Officer:  

No comments to add to the report

S.151 Officer

This investment is within the budget previously approved by Council for the improvements at Tring Pool.

In order to ensure the required returns from the investment, the new Funding Agreement with Tring School must adequately capture the appropriate guarantees over continued public use of the facility. The Service will need to work closely with Finance throughout the drafting of the Agreement.

Advice

RSmyth provided a verbal update further to discussions with Tring School that had taken place today (13/02/18); and was comfortable with everything outlined in report.  Tring School have some concern about timings as dependent on the Government signing off on a contract for 1^st April (EFSA will sign off).  We have developed a backup position, still involving Tring school taking over from the 1^st April, but allowing us more time to develop the contract should the EFSA take longer than the 4-6 weeks they suggest.  All parties happy we will be able to take this forward in the timescales proposed.

RSmyth added, construction work to be delivered by Kier, expecting final design and schedule of works in next couple of weeks but all progressing well.  Once received, will share this with the school to put a definitive timeline in place to start works (expected May 2018)

Cllr Marshall asked, what is the extent of the community use, will the School provide ‘X’ amount of hours over the duration of the contract?  RSmyth advised they will have to mirror the arrangements and hours that are already in place.

Cllr Marshall asked, will the contract allow the Council and the School to amend those hours in the future if needs arise?  RSmyth clarified that the school must, as a minimum, honour the existing hours. 

Cllr Williams confirmed, for clarity, that we will be ending the existing dual use agreement and starting a new dual use agreement, protections will be in place for those facilities covered by the agreement.

Cllr Harden asked, under Item 3.3 in the report around the potential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26