Decision details

(i)  To note the outcomes from the OSC Public Consultation, see Appendices 1 and 2.

(ii)  To agree the draft Masterplan of Improvements outlined in the Public Consultation as the scope of works.

(iii)  To agree way forward on the project and the outline timescales. See paragraph 24, heading titled ‘Key Milestones’.

(iv)  To delegate authority to the Exec Director Place, following consultation with the Exec. Director Finance and Commercialism and the Head of Supplier Management to approve to undertake a procurement process in order to appoint a contractor for the main works and establish the costs of the construction works to deliver the OSC improvement plan. This is sought for a procurement process prior to the final sign off at full council expected in the summer on the full scheme and its detailed costs.

(v)  To approve a further report to be brought forward to full Council for financial consideration.

(vi)  To delegate authority to the Head of Property to take all necessary actions required to progress the proposals in this report within existing budgets.

The Draft Masterplan of Improvements, the background to the project and the questionnaire that was available to the public is included in Appendix 3. The analysis of the Public Consultation, see Appendix 1, supports the Draft Masterplan. Responses in Appendix 2 outline helpful feedback which will inform subsequent detail design. A high percentage of responses to the consultation support the proposals, and therefore fundamental changes are not proposed to the scope of works.

The work to progress the OSC project to the next stage will include developing and submitting the planning application, submitting funding applications and preparing detailed cost estimates. This will enable a report to be considered at full Council in the summer seeking approval to spend the funding allocated in the capital programme and proceed with the final stages of design, procurement and ultimately construction. Implementation of the project will be subject to successful funding applications.

No action – The condition of OSC will continue to deteriorate and the funding options currently available to be applied for may not be available in the future. All the benefits of improved facilities in terms of numbers of people participating and the health and social benefits associated would not be realised.

Minimal action (minor repairs) – The approach to the OSC over the past 20 years has been to undertake minor repairs combined with a reliance on lifecycle fund expenditure by the Council leisure provider, Places for People. Continuing this approach would be uneconomic and severely hinder meeting the Council’s strategic objectives and the benefits of improved facilities. The external funding opportunities as above would not necessarily be available in the future