Agenda item

Arun Leisure Centre Wet Change Remodelling

The Policy and Finance Committee resolved on 10 February 2022 that the Council’s Capital Programme include a scheme to remodel the swimming pool changing rooms at the Arun Leisure Centre to improve accessibility, capacity, and customer experience.  A budget sum of £987,000 was approved for this project.  Approval is sought from the Committee to delegate authority to the Interim Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer and the Director of Environment and Communities to enter into contract for the construction works and associated budgetary decisions.

 

Minutes:

The Group Head of Wellbeing & Communities advised members that the council were now at a stage where the work had been tendered for and all bidders had submitted their bids, these would be evaluated on 22 September 2022. He explained that the report confirmed that Officers were looking for delegated authority to be given to Interim Head of Finance and the Director of Environment and Communities to enter into contract for the construction works and make associated budgetary decisions.

 

          Members were then invited by the Chair to ask any questions, a summary of those asked is below;

 

It was queried if the contingency sum of 4% would still be sufficient given the increase in costs so far this year. It was confirmed that the costs had been re-evaluated in July 2022 and it was hoped that the current costs would be enough to cover the works.

 

Discussion was had regarding if consultation had taken place with the public on the implementation of unisex changing rooms and what was the rationale behind the decision. It was confirmed that initial plans were to remodel as was, however it was deemed beneficial to plan to incorporate for more users of the facility. It was explained that a similar process was followed for the Wave in Littlehampton, and this had demonstrated many benefits in having a unisex protocol from cleaners being of either sex to clean the areas, to flexing the capacity of the space at high user times throughout the day, e.g., the female changing rooms can become overrun during children’s swimming lessons. It was confirmed that no public consultation had taken place on this topic. The Chair asked for assurance that those individuals who wanted privacy would be able to have it if they wanted it, this assurance was provided. Further discussion was had regarding what arrangements were put in place when school swimming lessons took place. It was confirmed that Friday mornings were set aside for these lessons, and the swimming pool was not available to the public at these times.

 

Discussion then moved back to the financial aspect where it was asked that should any financial issues become apparent would members be informed. It was confirmed that all costings would be accounted for in the tendered bids. However, should any issues become apparent whereby the project could not be completed within the budget then members would be advised as an update report would be presented at the next available meeting of the Committee.

 

In the final discussions on this item, it was requested that the number of single, double and larger family sized cubicles be confirmed. It was confirmed that there would be the following;

 

1 person cubicles x16

2 person cubicles x31

Family cubicles x5

Oversized cubicle x1 

 

It was also confirmed in response to an additional question relating to users who would need larger sized cubicles to incorporate a wheelchair that the existing Changing Places facility would be upgraded and confirmation would be sought that the family and oversized cubicles would accommodate a wheelchair.

 

The recommendations were then proposed by Councillor Gregory and seconded by Councillor Cooper (Andy).

 

The Committee

 

          RESOLVED that

 

 

1)    Delegated authority be given to the Interim Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer and the Director of Environment and Communities on receipt of a tender evaluation report from the Group Head of Wellbeing and Communities to appoint a construction company and enter a contract to deliver the remodelling and improvement work to the Arun Leisure Centre swimming pool changing area following the conclusion of the mini competition.

2)    Delegated authority be given to the Director of Environment and Communities in consultation with the Interim Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer to drawdown from the capital sum agreed for the successful completion of the Arun Leisure Centre Swimming Pool Changing Room Improvement Project.

 

Supporting documents: