Issue - items at meetings - King Alfred Development

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Issue - meetings

King Alfred Development

Meeting: 11/07/2013 - Policy & Resources Committee (pre 2015) (Item 21)

21 King Alfred Development pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

Additional documents:

Decision:

(1)               That the Project Board be thanked for the work undertaken to date, the main findings of which summarised in Sections 3.9 to 3.44 of the report be noted, and the Project Board’s recommendations to proceed be supported;

 

(2)               That the Board’s view that the project’s primary objective remains the delivery of a new, modern sports facility in the west of the city, either on the King Alfred site or another appropriate site to be identified as part of the procurement process by a preferred developer be supported;

 

(3)               That it be agreed that the proposed sports centre specification shown at Appendix 1 provides the appropriate range and mix of facilities demanded in the city, and approve the specification as the basis for taking the project forward, whilst not at this stage ruling out a 50m swimming pool and provision for diving should a developer come up with a viable proposal to incorporate this in a scheme;

 

(4)               That the forecast revenue costs for the proposed sports centre, the potential saving this provides when compared with the costs to the council of the current centre, and the potential this has to support council borrowing to enable direct investment towards the capital cost of the new facility;

 

(5)               That the findings of the development viability advice, which suggests financially viable solutions, are possible, but that pragmatic compromises are likely to be required be noted;

 

(6)               That the appointment of appropriate external advisers to support the procurement and evaluation process and approve the allocation of existing financial resources to enable this be agreed; and

 

(7)               That it be agreed that the Council should seek a preferred developer for the sports centre and enabling development by way of the Competitive Dialogue process and note the indicative programme leading to this, including a proposal for an open day with potential developers, and that a further report leading to the appointment of a preferred developer will return to a future meeting of this committee.

Minutes:

21.1         The Head of Planning and Pubic Protection introduced the report and stated that the cross-party Project Board had made rapid progress over the last few months having had a clear ambition and commitment to proceed.  He believed that a viable proposition had been reached and that some pragmatic compromises had been required in order to bring the project forward.  He referred to the maximum specifications detailed in appendix 1 to the report and noted that there was a need to remain cost neutral in capital terms.  He also noted that consideration had been given to retaining the development at the King Alfred site and also to enabling an alternative site to be used.  It was therefore hoped that an open day for potential developers could be held in October with a preferred developer being identified early next year.

 

21.2         Councillor Bowden stated that he wished to thank the other members of the Project Board for their support and that he felt the project was at a stage where it could be taken forward.  He noted that an amendment to the recommendations had been circulated by the Conservative Group and stated that he was happy to accept it.  In regard to the need for a 50m pool, he stated that discussions had been held with Sport England and it was not seen as being a requirement of any new development, however it could be part of the consideration during any competitive dialogue with potential developers.

 

21.3         Councillor G. Theobald welcomed the report and the acceptance of the amendment, which he moved, as he felt it was better to keep the option of having either a 25m or 50m pool at this point.

 

21.4         Councillor Morgan stated that as a member of the Project Board he believed the project could now be taken forward and wished to thank the officers for their work.  He hoped that the project would be supported by all Groups and that its fruition would be realised in the near future.

 

21.5         Councillor A. Norman welcomed the report and thanked the officers for their work.  She believed it was appropriate to include the possibility of a 50m pool and formally seconded the amendment.

 

21.6         The Chair noted the comments and stated that he believed the majority of residents in the city wanted to have a state of the art leisure centre and whilst the option of a 50m pool could be considered, it should not prevent the realisation of a new leisure centre.  He therefore put the recommendations as amended to the vote.

 

21.7         RESOLVED:

 

(1)         That the Project Board be thanked for the work undertaken to date, the main findings of which summarised in Sections 3.9 to 3.44 of the report be noted, and the Project Board’s recommendations to proceed be supported;

 

(2)         That the Board’s view that the project’s primary objective remains the delivery of a new, modern sports facility in the west of the city, either on the King Alfred site or another appropriate site to be identified as part of the procurement process by a preferred developer be supported;

 

(3)         That it be agreed that the proposed sports centre specification shown at Appendix 1 provides the appropriate range and mix of facilities demanded in the city, and approve the specification as the basis for taking the project forward, whilst not at this stage ruling out a 50m swimming pool and provision for diving should a developer come up with a viable proposal to incorporate this in a scheme;

 

(4)         That the forecast revenue costs for the proposed sports centre, the potential saving this provides when compared with the costs to the council of the current centre, and the potential this has to support council borrowing to enable direct investment towards the capital cost of the new facility;

 

(5)         That the findings of the development viability advice, which suggests financially viable solutions, are possible, but that pragmatic compromises are likely to be required be noted;

 

(6)         That the appointment of appropriate external advisers to support the procurement and evaluation process and approve the allocation of existing financial resources to enable this be agreed; and

 

(7)         That it be agreed that the Council should seek a preferred developer for the sports centre and enabling development by way of the Competitive Dialogue process and note the indicative programme leading to this, including a proposal for an open day with potential developers, and that a further report leading to the appointment of a preferred developer will return to a future meeting of this committee.


 


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