Agenda item - The Build Sport and Leisure Facilities

To consider the report of the Director (JY).

Agreed

Agreed that it is recommended to Council that:-

(1) Clifton Hill Sports Centre be permanently closed on cost /best value grounds;

(2) Clifton Hill Sport Centre be sold to generate a capital receipt to offset compensation costs and provide investment for other Council priorities including the development and improvement of other leisure sites;

(3) Delegated authority be given to the City Surveyor to include the sale of the adjacent driving range, ski slope and Exeter Small Bore Rifle Club areas of the Clifton Hill site as a single development site if this offers the best value to the Council.

(4) Delegated authority be given to the City Surveyor to take necessary steps to ensure the land is used for residential accommodation and not used for purpose built student accommodation.

(5) an estimated budgeted loss of revenue income and VAT £100,000 be noted;

(6) the operator be supported with its proposal to repackage and reframe the city wide leisure offer reducing by the price for a cross city offer which provides access to all facilities built at a proposed monthly membership fee of £25.00. (Currently at £35.65 per month); and

(7) the development of Physical Activity and Built Facilities strategies be agreed setting out the longer term sustainability and development plans for Riverside Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre, Wonford Sports Centre; Exeter Arena and ISCA Centre; Northbrook Swimming Pool and Northbrook Golf Course.

(In accordance with Standing Order no.43, Councillor Leadbetter requested that his voting against these recommendations be recorded)

Agreed that it is recommended to Council that:-

(8) A budget of up to £2,000,000 for essential enhancements to the fabric of the buildings and replacement of essential plant and mechanical systems at Exeter Arena, Wonford Sports Centre and Riverside Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre;

(9) A budget of £880,000 for additional enhancements to the interiors and facilities at Exeter Arena, Wonford Sports Centre and Riverside Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre to improve the customer experience and mitigate against the loss of facilities at Clifton Hill Sports Centre;

(10) A budget of up to £150,000 to demolish Clifton Hill Sports Centre to secure the site and avoid incurring Business Rates and other unbudgeted revenue costs;

(11) Delegated authority be given to the relevant Director to negotiate and agree the contractual compensation payment to be paid to the Leisure Operator as a result of the closure of Clifton Hill, to be funded from a Leisure earmarked reserve; and

(12) a budget of up to £150,000 be allocated to Newtown Community Association for the new Community Building being planned in Belmont Park with a further £50,000 being provided to enhance facilities in Belmont Park.

(In accordance with Standing Order no.43, Councillor Leadbetter requested that his voting against these recommendations be recorded)

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

The report of the Director (JY) was submitted which recommended the permanent closure of Clifton Hill Sports Centre and requested a total budget of £3,000,000 to fund an interim plan for consolidating and investing in existing built sports and leisure facilities to improve and update the current offer to citizens.

The Director (JY) gave a presentation to Members (attached to minutes) which advised of the:-

· context

· usage summary

· environmental concerns prior to Storm Emma

· damage as a result of Storm Emma

· reasons why repair was not being recommended

· what has happened to the current users

· the proposal which included investing in the upgrading of Riverside Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre, Wonford Sports Centre, Exeter Arena and ISCA Centre

· what the proposal does and the overall Physical Activity Strategy for the city

· the options available to the Council and the potential costs

· the importance of engaging with the local community and improving access to all city wide sports facilities.

The Leader thanked the Director for her comprehensive and informative presentation. He advised that as the future of the Council’s Built Sports and Leisure Facilities was a key issue all Councillors should be given the opportunity to input into the decision. He proposed the final decision on matters under consideration be taken by Council on 13 June 2018. Members had been circulated copies of all the comments received from members of the public which included a petition close to having 1,500 signatures.

The Leader continued that in order to mitigate against some of the loss facilities to the local community and to provide spaces for local residents to come together and to support families to use Belmont Park to be active together, he proposed the following additional recommendation.

‘To recommend to Council that it allocates up to £150,000 to Newtown Community Association for the new Community Building being planned in Belmont Park with a further £50,000 being provided to enhance facilities in Belmont Park’.

Councillor M Vizard, having given notice until Standing Order no.44, spoke on the item. He raised the following points:-

· thanked the Leader for his proposed additional recommendation which if agreed, would help towards the development of a Community Building which would be positive for the ward

· raised the issue of the financial pressure the Council was under with a reduction in the Central Government grant of £7.24 million (60%) since 2010 and the need to protect front line services

· supported development of St Sidwell’s Point which would provide excellent sports and leisure facilities

· was raising local residents’ concerns regarding the loss of a valuable community facility and sports hall that was used by the young and old

· was concerned that there was no formal consultation and asked that a presentation be made to the local residents to explain the issues

· there was a need to address the health and wellbeing of the residents in Newtown

· look into possible use of other local amenities such as the St Luke’s University Campus

· investigate how transport links could be improved from the area to the other sports facilities in the city

· future use of the site and its impact on the area with the potential loss of green space

· closure could have a negative impact on an area with very high deprivation

· was essential that local residents were consulted on any proposals for the site going forward.

Councillor N Vizard, having given notice until Standing Order no.44, spoke on the item. She raised the following points:-

· thanked local residents for taking the time to raise their objections and concerns with Councillors and drew attention to some of the points they raised

· why had there not been more formal public consultation? This had also been raised by the Local County Councillor

· welcomed the Director’s comments regarding investigating the use of other local facilities in the area

· concerns regarding the loss of green space if the site was sold off

· closure would have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of local residents

· some residents could not travel to the other city sports centres, so what facilities would fill the gap until St Sidwell’s Point was built?

· the decision should be delayed until an audit on need for facilities in the area had been undertaken

· the Newtown Community was forfeiting its facilities for the rest of the city

· what would be the cost to rebuild Clifton Hill Sport Centre?

· what partners could provide alternative sports hall facilities?

· if the site was sold off any proposal should work for the city and local residents and include the right type of housing

· would the golf driving range be redeveloped?

· one local resident had stated that Clifton Hill Sorts Centre was not fit for purpose and more green space was needed for recreation

· applauded the work of the Director to improve the Health and Wellbeing of residents of the city.

Councillor Branston, having given notice until Standing Order no.44, spoke on the item. He raised the following points:-

· supported the points raised by Councillors M Vizard and N Vizard

· whilst appreciating that the proposals would enhance the customer experience at other sports facilities in the city, not all the local residents could travel to an alternative centre

· concerns around the attendance percentages in the report - there were no real hard figures

· Newtown was an area with high deprivation

· must not lose sight of the impact this closure would have on local residents

· Community facilities were vital to provide recreation for all ages ranges

· received three letters, two from residents with a disabled child who used and valued the centre and one from a Doctor who referred patients to the centre

· concern that the Council’s decision could be challenged.

Councillor Mrs Henson, having given notice until Standing Order no.44, spoke on the item. She raised the following points:-

· acknowledged that the report was thorough

· the Council should have never got to this situation

· when was the decision taken not to invest in the Council’s existing sports facilities?

· concern regarding the validity of the Councils building insurance due to lack of maintenance

· why was the lack of investment in the building not reported as a risk to the Audit & Governance Committee or picked up the External Auditors?

· any future use of the site would be limited given the previous use of part of the site and research undertaken by the University that solid rock was not found until 30 metres underground.

The Leader stated that to demolish Clifton Hill Sport’s Centre was the most cost effective option given the estimate to repair the facility and that St Sidwell’s Point would provide the area and the city with an excellent new sports facility. He acknowledged that this was not an easy decision to be made but the Council had to look at its overall financial position given its limited budgets.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Communities and Sport seconded the Leaders recommendation. He commented that:-

· this was a difficult decision to make

· Clifton Hill had featured in the Council’s emerging Physical Activity Strategy interim plans

· recognised the facility was valued by the community

· the Council was working on the Build Sport and Leisure Strategy and this included all aspects of physical activity

· the Council had been chosen as a Sport England Pilot area and was committed to getting 10,000 people more active in the next few years

· the Newtown ward would have a new flag ship leisure facility with St Sidwell’s Point which could be used by all

· the community would be invited to bring to the Council’s attention other facilities across the city which could be used for sport and community hubs

· the long term plans to improve all the other sport facilities in the city included looking at the possibility of replacing the Northbrook Swimming Pool with a community pool on the Arena site

· the Council could not provide sports facilities in all wards but the city had good transport links

· the use of open space for physical activity should be encouraged

· the Council had been working hard to provide alternative options in the area and the Leader had proposed an additional £200,000 towards the new community building and enhancement of Belmont Park

· the Council would work with local communities to help them develop the use of community buildings for sports activities as had happened in Topsham

· the Council recognised that the city would need a new sports hall and would work with the University and Exeter College to see if the community could make use of their facilities

· any development of the site would be subject to consultation

· all must recognise the bigger picture with the development of sports facilities across the city.

During discussion Members raised the following points:-

· had to consider the impact of the loss of the facility on local community and the loss of a sports hall

· overall usage of the facility was low

· work was being undertaken with partners to access other sports facilities in the city

· full consideration would be given to the future use of the site which would be subject to consultation

· loss of Central Government Funding was not without impact

· welcomed the additional proposal for funds to improve the community facilities in the area

· the need to look at the Physical Activity Strategy for the whole of the city

· the area had high deprivation levels

· acknowledged this was a difficult decision.

One Member commented that the St Sidwell’s Point would not be a like for like replacement and would not be built for a couple of years. There was public objection, over 1500 had signed a petition against the closure of Clifton Hill Sports Centre and the replacement or repair of the centre should be investigated.

The Leader recognised that this was a difficult decision to take but that the building of St Sidwell’s Point was on course. He clarified that there would be green spaces maintained on the site as part of the site was on contaminated land and could not be built on; The Director would be asked to convene a meeting with the Newtown Community Association to help address their concerns and aspirations; and the Council would work with local groups to help them find alternative facilities for physical activity.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves that:-