Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the Cranleigh Leisure Centre investment project. Focusing on the outcomes of the Options Appraisal conducted in 2019 and the Feasibility Update Report completed in September 2021 (Exempt Annexe 1) allowing for the impact of the pandemic on any potential business case.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive considers the findings of this report and recommends to Council:

1.             that a capital budget of £19.95m be allocated to deliver a low carbon new-build Cranleigh Leisure Centre, to a minimum of Passivhaus standard;

2.             that officers appoint a project manager and specialist energy consultant as part of the professional technical services team, to be supported by an in-house client team and to approve an associated budget of £250,000;

3.             to approve a new-build leisure centre on Village Way car park, subject to planning, (Option 1, to the north of the existing centre) as the preferred location, as set out within Annexe 1 of the report; and

4.             to ask officers to report back to members when final costs, design, preferred contractor, and precise funding arrangements are known.

71.1     The Leader formally moved the recommendations which were duly seconded by Councillor Townsend who introduced the report which set out proposals for a capital investment to build a new low carbon leisure centre in Cranleigh to replace the 52 year old leisure centre which was no longer financially viable due to the operating and maintenance costs.  Cranleigh had seen an increase in the demand for leisure facilities following the growth in population.  Councillor Townsend thanked the commitment of the Executive in bringing the recommendations forward, which were in line with corporate commitments to improve the health and wellbeing of residents and take action on climate change.  She thanked the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its support for the recommendations.

71.2     Councillor Foryszewski spoke in support of the recommendations and thanked the officers for their work on the proposals.  She suggested that a multi-agency working group be set up to develop the technical proposals.

71.3     Councillor Seaborne spoke in support of the recommendations however sought assurances that officers would stay in regular contact with Exeter and Spelthorne to track lessons learnt from their two flagship Passivehaus developments.  He sought clarification from the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability that the Co2 reductions quoted were operational or whether the emissions involved in the construction of the new centre been factored in; that the data set did not include emissions from Waverley’s housing stock; and where the 2019/20 emissions data could be found.

71.4     Councillor Wilson welcomed the recommendations which would also benefit all the Borough’s leisure centres.  Councillor Williams welcomed the recommendations, thanking the officers for their work on the proposals.  He advised that the Council would continue to learn lessons from Exeter and Spelthorne.  The new centre would provide a significant reduction in the Council’s carbon footprint and contribute to net zero carbon.  The existing leisure centre represented around 11% of the Council’s total carbon footprint. A further 2% was emitted from the housing stock.

71.5     Councillor Reed spoke in support of the recommendations and the business which would be generated in Cranleigh from the proposals and echoed the point made by Councillor Foryszewski that the current leisure centre manager should be involved in the development of the proposals.

71.6     Councillor Dickson welcomed the report and congratulated the Portfolio Holder in bringing forward the recommendations.  She spoke in support of the positive impact they would have on health and wellbeing in Cranleigh.  However she was concerned over the cost and timeframe for delivery and suggested brining in a third party to deliver the project. 

71.7     Councillor Mulliner advised that the Exeter leisure centre had been opened in July 2021 and the Spelthorne centre was yet to be built, which would provide invaluable experience on which to draw upon.  The £20m was an indicative cost and would become clearer.  He understood that it was expected that the revenue would offset the build cost in the coming years and welcomed the centre for the residents of Cranleigh.

71.8     In summing up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71

This report provides an update on the Cranleigh Leisure Centre investment project. Focusing on the outcomes of the Options Appraisal conducted in 2019 and the Feasibility Update Report completed in September 2021 (Exempt Annexe 1) allowing for the impact of the pandemic on any potential business case.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive considers the findings of this report and recommends to Council:

2.1          that a capital budget of £19.95m be allocated to deliver a low carbon new-build Cranleigh Leisure Centre, to a minimum of Passivhaus standard;

2.2          that officers appoint a project manager and specialist energy consultant as part of the professional technical services team, to be supported by an in-house client team and to approve an associated budget of £250,000;

2.3          to approve a new-build leisure centre on Village Way car park, subject to planning, (Option 1, to the north of the existing centre) as the preferred location, as set out within Annexe 1 of the report; and

2.4          to ask officers to report back to members when final costs, design, preferred contractor, and precise funding arrangements are known.

RESOLVED that the Executive considers the findings of this report and recommends to Council:

1.             that a capital budget of £19.95m be allocated to deliver a low carbon new-build Cranleigh Leisure Centre, to a minimum of Passivhaus standard;

2.             that officers appoint a project manager and specialist energy consultant as part of the professional technical services team, to be supported by an in-house client team and to approve an associated budget of £250,000;

3.             to approve a new-build leisure centre on Village Way car park, subject to planning, (Option 1, to the north of the existing centre) as the preferred location, as set out within Annexe 1 of the report; and

4.             to ask officers to report back to members when final costs, design, preferred contractor, and precise funding arrangements are known.

Reason: The detailed reasons for the recommendations are set out in the report.

[This matter is recommended to Council for decision and is not subject to the call-in procedure.]

Councillor Townsend presented the report which set out an update on the Cranleigh Leisure Centre investment project, focusing on the outcomes of the Options Appraisal conducted in 2019 and the Feasibility Update Report completed in September 2021.  The proposals had been welcomed by the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the requested all Councillor briefing had been arranged.  If any Councillor was unable to attend that briefing and had any questions, answers could be provided separately.  The project would deliver on the Council’s commitment to maintain a facility for Cranleigh and surrounding villages, deliver on the climate emergency action plan and become carbon neutral by 2030. It was hoped that the new facility would be open in 2025. 

The cost of maintaining the current building was increasing with no return on that investment and there was increasing demand on the facility.  Cranleigh Parish Council were keen to see the development of a new facility and opportunities were being explored to integrate it with local health and wellbeing services and facilities.  Although the project costs had been affected by the pandemic and Brexit, the market had shown resilience with visitor numbers almost returning to pre-pandemic levels with an increased focus on health and wellbeing outcomes.  

The current leisure centre was responsible for 11% of Waverley’s greenhouse emissions and the proposed leisure centre would see a 60-70% reduction in carbon emissions.  While there was an uplift in costs, in part due to higher material costs and labour shortages in addition to energy efficiencies, this must be viewed in light of the social and environmental benefits and considerable savings in energy costs. 

The Executive welcomed the report and the recommendations which would contribute to the Council’s climate change agenda and benefit residents across the borough, not just in Cranleigh.  The new building would be in line with the most energy efficient and sustainable leisure centres in the country, which would encompass other health and wellbeing benefits and generate revenue.  The positive comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were welcomed and the officers and Portfolio Holder were thanked for their efforts and it was

RESOLVED that the Executive considers the findings of this report and recommends to Council:

1.             that a capital budget of £19.95m be allocated to deliver a low carbon new-build Cranleigh Leisure Centre, to a minimum of Passivhaus standard;

2.             that officers appoint a project manager and specialist energy consultant as part of the professional technical services team, to be supported by an in-house client team and to approve an associated budget of £250,000;

3.             to approve a new-build leisure centre on Village Way car park, subject to planning, (Option 1, to the north of the existing centre) as the preferred location, as set out within Annexe 1 of the report; and

4.             to ask officers to report back to members when final costs, design, preferred contractor, and precise funding arrangements are known.