Agenda item

That:

1. the design, plan and costing for a new athletics track and pavilion, as outlined in section 3 of the report to Cabinet be approved. 

Resolved to recommend:

2. a supplementary estimate as set out in Paragraph 2.1 of Appendix 1of the report to Cabinet.

3. authority be delegated to the Assistant Director (Performance, People & Innovation) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resident and Corporate Services to procure and complete the contract for works.

Decision

That:

1. the design, plan and costing for a new athletics track and pavilion, as outlined in section 3 of the report to Cabinet be approved. 

Resolved to recommend:

2. a supplementary estimate as set out in Paragraph 2.1 of Appendix 1of the report to Cabinet.

3. authority be delegated to the Assistant Director (Performance, People & Innovation) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resident and Corporate Services to procure and complete the contract for works.

Reason for Decision

For Cabinet to review and approve the design and recommendations for building a new athletics track and pavilion at Longdean school.

Corporate Objectives

Clean, Safe and Enjoyable Environment – Having good quality, athletics provision is vital to improving participation and ensuring that residents can enjoy the borough and boost their health and wellbeing.

This review will therefore, ensure our approach to athletics continues to meet the needs of current and future residents.

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer Comments

Monitoring Officer:  

Responsibilities for the ongoing management and maintenance of the site together with agreement on the allocation of financial receipts will need to be documented in a Dual Use agreement prior to commencement of the works.    Furthermore, a building licence will also need to be agreed with the school prior to commencement of works.

Deputy S.151 Officer

To note the contents of the Part 2 report containing the revised and more detailed costings that have been received following consultation with partners.

The detailed range of costs contained within the report still meet the principles agreed by Cabinet for the project to be self-financing from anticipated receipt and will be refined once tenders have been submitted.

Advice

Councillor Harden introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

·        Investing in our sporting infrastructure is vital if we are going to deliver the Council’s commitment to health and wellbeing.

·        A desktop review (by Labo Sport) has identified Longdean School as a potential site for a new athletics track and pavilion, and in September Cabinet approved a budget for more detailed design and costing work.

·        Over the last few months Officers have been working with a range of stakeholders including Longdean school, the Athletics Club, Sportspace, Sport England, England Athletics and the FA on the potential design.

·        The report therefore provides the proposed design (with costs) for a modern, flexible, user friendly pavilion and a track which could hold high quality athletics events.

·        If approved, the timeline for delivering the project is 15 months. The reason for this is to take account of planning and that the track can only be laid when the weather is more mild.

Councillor Elliot felt that the current location is not right for the track and therefore looks forward to this development at Longdean school. He raised concern and sought clarification that the new site is built and open before the old one is knocked down.

D Skinner added that the council were not anticipating any receipts before the new one is fully operational and there was a planning condition to this effect.

Councillor Marshall noted that the contract costs have so far been estimated and therefore asked what would happen if the bids are higher than the budget allocated.

D Skinner said this would need to be reported back to Cabinet for them to make the decision.

R Smyth explained that the estimates have been based on professional guidance and also included extra provisional costs for contingency.

Councillor Sutton was pleased with the work so far and said we needed to move forward with this as soon as possible.

Councillor Griffiths said the new site was a very good idea. The old track had served its purpose and it was time to move on.

Voting

None.