Decision details

Consideration was given to proposals in respect of replacement of the Angel Leisure Centre in Tonbridge with a new state-of-the-art leisure and community facility located in the town centre area.

When considering the recommendation from the Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board on the selected location for the replacement leisure centre, Members recognised that the expertise of the Council’s Leisure development partner and Masterplanning consultants and the views of Members to ensure the selected site fit into the broader objectives of the town centre masterplanning exercise had been taken into consideration.

Members further noted that the final design of the replacement leisure and community facility would be developed over the next 12 months and would be reported to the Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board in due course, subject to public consultation and planning approval.

While noting from the capital plan evaluation attached at Annex 2 that the overall project cost to build a replacement leisure centre was estimated to be significant and would represent the largest investment in a project by the Borough Council, Members also acknowledged that there would be option for the Borough Council to discontinue with the project after each of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stages should such a need arise within the context of the Local Government Reorganisation programme and the approval being sought at this stage was for financial commitment to meet the cost for RIBA Stage 2 only.

Concern was raised by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing on the estimated cost for the project as identified by the feasibility study undertaken during RIBA Stage 1 and it was recognised that in order to fund the project, external borrowing would have to be considered alongside utilising reserves as part of the funding options, although efforts was being made and would continue to be made within the Borough Council to minimise the need for external borrowing and maximise the value for money to arise from the project.  In addition, Members were advised that negotiation with the Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust, being the agreed operator of the new leisure centre, was underway in respect of a capital contribution and revised service fees in favour of the Borough Council as part of the wider discussion with regard to a potential contract extension, in anticipation of an uplift in projected net revenue based on forecasted increase in latent demand.

Cabinet had due regard to the financial and value for money considerations, risk assessment and legal implications and reinforced the necessity for additional and tight control to be put in place to enable Cabinet to monitor the entire process of the project to ensure best value for money was achieved with prudent spend of taxpayers’ money.

Cllr M Boughton proposed, seconded by Cllr M Coffin and Cabinet

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Sovereign Way Mid Car Park be selected as the site location for the new Leisure Centre;

(2)          the timeline for the project as shown in Annex 5, be noted, subject to the timeline being amended to reflect that following each Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Regeneration and Property, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Community Services, be asked to confirm agreement to move on to the next RIBA stage;

(3)          subject to approval of the project by full Council, the appointment of Alliance Leisure Services Ltd as the Borough Council’s leisure development partner to progress the project through the RIBA Stages, be approved;

(4)          negotiations with the Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust be commenced by the Chief Executive of the Borough Council regarding a capital contribution and an ongoing annual contribution to the project and draft Heads of Terms be brought forward by the Chief Executive; and

(5)          £400,000 be transferred from the Borough Council’s Climate Change Reserve to the earmarked reserve for the Angel Leisure Centre replacement.

RECOMMENDED*:  That

(1)          List C Capital Plan Evaluation for the replacement Angel Leisure Centre scheme, at set out in Annex 2, be transferred to List A of the Capital Plan.

*Recommended to Council