Lead Member – Councillor L Picton – Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure

Report of the Director of Place

Contact:  Mark Barrow  Tel:  01743 258916

RESOLVED:

1. To acknowledge and approve the findings of the recent review that the most suitable location for any town centre facility is the existing Quarry site.

2. To authorise Council officers to commence initial discussions with the operator, Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, and their managing agent, Serco Leisure Ltd., to investigate the potential to develop a new facility on the existing Quarry site.

3. To authorise officers to explore options at Sundorne Sports Village to ensure continuity of public swimming within Shrewsbury whilst works to the Quarry Pool site takes place.

4. To agree a revenue budget of £500,000 to undertake the full feasibility assessments, due diligence, site investigations and progress to full design of the recommended options above.  This will be funded from rescheduled projects within earmarked reserves.

5. To agree that the detailed implementation of all aspects of the recommendations made within this report are delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure.
   
   

The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure presented the report of the Director of Place on Future Swimming Provision in Shrewsbury.  This set out the outcome of review work which had confirmed that the most suitable location for swimming provision was in Shrewsbury town centre and at the existing  Quarry site.  She reported on further work needed to determine if a rebuild or major refurbishment would be needed and on the opportunity to integrate other uses beyond purely leisure use.  A design competition would be launched to ensure that the facility complimented its location in the Quarry Park. 

In response to questions from Members she confirmed that future decisions would be taken in line with the Indoor Leisure Facility Strategy and the Financial Strategy and both she and the Leader were committed to delivery.  The Leader agreed that a cross party working group would be a useful way to keep all informed of progress.

RESOLVED:

1. To acknowledge and approve the findings of the recent review that the most suitable location for any town centre facility is the existing Quarry site.

2. To authorise Council officers to commence initial discussions with the operator, Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, and their managing agent, Serco Leisure Ltd., to investigate the potential to develop a new facility on the existing Quarry site.

3. To authorise officers to explore options at Sundorne Sports Village to ensure continuity of public swimming within Shrewsbury whilst works to the Quarry Pool site takes place.

4. To agree a revenue budget of £500,000 to undertake the full feasibility assessments, due diligence, site investigations and progress to full design of the recommended options above.  This will be funded from rescheduled projects within earmarked reserves.

5. To agree that the detailed implementation of all aspects of the recommendations made within this report are delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure.