Issue - meetings

Cabinet will note the outcome and/or consider the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the call-in of decision D230106CAB.  As the extraordinary meeting of Cabinet will follow the extraordinary meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, a verbal update will be provided by the Scrutiny Officer and any recommendations tabled (if required). 

Annex 1 to the report to the Finance, Regeneration and Property Scrutiny Select Committee of 14 November 2023 contains private/confidential information and is attached to the agenda under Part 2 - Private.

In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision was the subject of a call-in and was scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 January 2024.  Members of the Committee considered the grounds for the call-in and had regard to the responses provided by the Leader.  After in-depth discussion and a formal vote the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended that decision D230106CAB be amended as follows:

“In principle, the Angel Centre be demolished and replacement leisure and community facilities be provided in Tonbridge and, in principle, all options be kept on the table for the future location and nature of such replacement leisure and community facilities within Tonbridge.”

RESOLVED:  That decision D230106CAB be amended as recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as set out above and come into immediate effect.

The above decision (attached at Annex 1) has been called in.  In accordance with “Call In” procedure, five members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee have raised a valid “Call In” in respect of this decision.

Recommendation FRP 23/27 of the Finance, Regeneration and Property Scrutiny Select Committee of 14 November 2023 is also attached.

Annex 1 to the report to the Finance, Regeneration and Property Scrutiny Select Committee of 14 November 2023 contains private/confidential information and is attached to the agenda under Part 2 - Private.

The report of the Scrutiny Officer advised that in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution, five members of the Committee had raised a valid ‘call-in’ request in relation to the decision taken by the Cabinet in respect of the future of the Angel Centre, Tonbridge.

Decision Notice D230106CAB (attached at Annex 1) had been published on 8 December 2023 and subsequently called-in by Councillors Hood, Hines, Cope, Hoskins and Thornewell. 

The grounds for call-in were set out in the report, at paragraph 1.1.2, and the decision was ‘deferred’ pending consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members of the Committee considered the grounds for the call-in and had regard to the responses provided by the Leader.  There was detailed discussion on the general principle of taking the decision to demolish the Angel Centre before a suitable location for a replacement had been identified.

It was proposed by Councillor Hood and seconded by Councillor Hines that a revised decision be recommended to Cabinet as follows: “Mace, our consultants, should provide options for demolition, refurbishment and relocation of the leisure and community facilities currently provided at the Angel Centre; all options should be kept on the table until Members have sufficient detail to make an informed decision and are provided with a shortlist of possible locations.”

Following a formal vote this proposal was rejected with 9 Members voting against and 8 voting in favour. 

It was the opinion of Members that a sustainable carbon neutral and state of the art new leisure centre that met the evolving leisure and community needs of the residents would benefit the borough as a whole.  The Leader advised that the demolishing and rebuilding option could ensure a continued provision of facilities as the existing Angel Centre would remain open until a replacement facility was opened.  Members were further advised that there would be multiple stages to engage them for scrutinising and decision making in respect of the new leisure centre, as part of the asset review and regeneration of the Tonbridge Town Centre.

In order to emphasise the nature of the current decision being “in principle” and the inclusion of “community facilities” within the consideration of the replacement facilities, it was proposed by Councillor Harman and seconded by Councillor Hudson that an amended decision be recommended to Cabinet to highlight these points as discussed.

Following a formal vote this proposal was supported with 10 Members voting in favour and 7 voting against.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8. 6, Part 4 (Rules) of the Constitution, Councillors Hood, Banks, Cope, Hickmott, Hines, Hoskins and Bridge requested that it be recorded in the Minutes that they had voted against this proposal.

RECOMMENDED:  That decision D230106CAB be amended as follows:

“In principle, the Angel Centre be demolished and replacement leisure and community facilities be provided in Tonbridge and, in principle, all options be kept on the table for the future location and nature of such replacement leisure and community facilities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

Recommendation FRP 23/27 of Finance, Regeneration and Property Scrutiny Select Committee of 14 November 2023.

The aim of this report is to ascertain Members’ in-principle views on the future of the existing Angel Centre building as part of the Council’s work to review its land and property assets in Tonbridge town centre.

Annex 1 contains private/confidential information and is attached to the agenda under Part 2 - Private.

Consideration was given to recommendation FRP 23/27 of the Finance, Regeneration and Property Scrutiny Select Committee in respect of the future of the existing Angel Centre building. 

Due regard was given to the operational, building fabric and climate change considerations, together with the views expressed by the Leisure Trust and the Scrutiny Select Committee.  The financial implications and advantages and disadvantages of both refurbishment and new facility options were also taken into account.

Members recognised that, due to the age, design and changing nature of leisure provision, the Angel Centre was no longer fit for purpose without significant investment in both plant and equipment.   In addition, substantial investment would be required to reduce the carbon footprint of the building to achieve the Borough Council’s carbon neutral aspirations for its leisure facilities.  At this stage, any decision was ‘in-principle’ only to allow phase 2 of the Tonbridge Town Centre asset review work to progress.

On the grounds of providing clarity regarding the Borough Council’s review of its assets in Tonbridge, supporting climate change and ensuring that leisure facilities in the town were fit for purpose and represented value for money, the Leader proposed that the Angel Centre be demolished and replacement leisure facilities be provided; and in-principle, all options be kept on the table for the future location of the replacement leisure facilities within Tonbridge and the nature of such replacement facilities. This was seconded by Cllr Betts and supported unanimously.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             in principle, the Angel Centre be demolished and replacement leisure and community facilities be provided in Tonbridge and, in principle, all options be kept on the table for the future location and nature of such replacement leisure and community facilities within Tonbridge.

[In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision was the subject of a call-in and was scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 January 2024.   Members of the Committee considered the grounds for the call-in and had regard to the responses provided by the Leader.  After in-depth discussion and a formal vote the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended that decision D230106CAB be amended to include the words ‘in principle’ before ‘the Angel Centre’ and ‘community and leisure facilities’.  Cabinet resolved to amend the decision as recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and it came into effect on 10 January 2024.]

(Decision Notice: D230106CAB)

Consideration was given to recommendation FRP 23/27 of the Finance, Regeneration and Property Scrutiny Select Committee in respect of the future of the existing Angel Centre building. 

Due regard was given to the operational, building fabric and climate change considerations, together with the views expressed by the Leisure Trust and the Scrutiny Select Committee.  The financial implications and advantages and disadvantages of both refurbishment and new facility options were also taken into account.

Members recognised that, due to the age, design and changing nature of leisure provision, the Angel Centre was no longer fit for purpose without significant investment in both plant and equipment.   In addition, substantial investment would be required to reduce the carbon footprint of the building to achieve the Borough Council’s carbon neutral aspirations for its leisure facilities.  At this stage, any decision was ‘in-principle’ only to allow phase 2 of the Tonbridge Town Centre asset review work to progress.

On the grounds of providing clarity regarding the Borough Council’s review of its assets in Tonbridge, supporting climate change and ensuring that leisure facilities in the town were fit for purpose and represented value for money, the Leader proposed that the Angel Centre be demolished and replacement leisure facilities be provided; and in-principle, all options be kept on the table for the future location of the replacement leisure facilities within Tonbridge and the nature of such replacement facilities. This was seconded by Councillor Betts and supported unanimously.

RESOLVED:  That the Angel Centre be demolished and replacement leisure facilities be provided in Tonbridge and, in principle, all options be kept on the table for the future location and nature of such replacement leisure facilities within Tonbridge.

The aim of this report is to ascertain Members’ in-principle views on the future of the existing Angel Centre building as part of the Council’s work to review its land and property assets in Tonbridge town centre.

Annex 1 contains private/confidential information and is attached to the agenda under Part 2 - Private.

Members’ in-principle views were sought on the future of the existing Angel Centre building as part of the Borough Council’s work to review its land and property assets in Tonbridge town centre.

Members recognised that, due to age, design and the changing nature of leisure provision, the Angel Centre had reached the point of requiring substantial investment in both plant and equipment and building fabric to remain fit for purpose in the long term.  In addition, significant further investment would be required to reduce the carbon footprint of the building to achieve the Council’s carbon neutral aspirations for its leisure facilities.  From a cost saving perspective, actions needed to take place as soon as possible in view of the huge ongoing maintenance expenses.

It was emphasised by the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Regeneration and Property that it was only a preference on the in-principle option that was sought from Members at this stage, which information would then be incorporated into the option appraisals to be developed by the consultant company MACE as part of their Phase 2 report, to be presented to the Committee for consideration at a future meeting.

Having regard to the operational, building fabric and climate change considerations, as well as views expressed by the Leisure Trust and the financial implications, Members noted the pros and cons of both refurbishment and new facility options respectively and took into account the legal implications set out in Annex 1.

RECOMMENDED*:  That

(1)        in principle, all options be kept on the table for the future of the leisure centre, including demolishing and rebuilding it elsewhere.

*Recommended to Cabinet