Agenda item

RESOLVED: Cabinet resolves to:

1. Approve the West Norfolk Racket and Community Sports Hub at Lynnsport at a cost of £2.2m.

2. Subject to approval for the funding by full council, to progress the project from Tier 3 to Tier 1 of the Capital Programme and for delivery and progress to be reported to an monitored by the Member Major Projects Board.

RECOMMENDED: That Full Council:

1. Approve an increase to the councils contribution from £866,000 to £1,200,000 to fund the scheme, an increase of £334,000.

2. Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to determine the most appropriate financing mix for the councils £1,200,000 funding of the project.

REASON FOR DECISION:

1. To enable the Council to secure significant, time-bound national funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to deliver the multi-activity hub. Cabinet approval is required to authorise the necessary capital investment, formalise match funding commitments, and resolve immediate peak-time indoor capacity pressures at Lynnsport. 

2. Furthermore, a Cabinet decision is necessary to align the Council's capital assets with corporate strategic objectives around unlocking long-term social value and tackling health inequalities in priority communities. While this report seeks approval for additional capital investment, the proposal should be viewed as a wider place-making and prevention initiative rather than simply an expansion of leisure facilities.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

Cabinet noted that the Environment and Community Panel had considered this report and supported the Cabinet Recommendations.

Councillor Ring introduced the report and described the proposal as an exciting opportunity for the Council, highlighting the significant benefits it would deliver for both residents and the wider community.

The Assistant Director for Leisure and Culture presented the report and delivered a presentation outlining the proposed scheme and the recommendations for Cabinet's consideration.

The Chief Operating Officer reminded Members that the proposals had previously been considered and subject to robust scrutiny by the Environment and Community Panel.

Councillor Rust welcomed the proposals and commented that the benefits of the project extended beyond the physical facility itself. She highlighted the potential to improve health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and increase opportunities for disadvantaged communities. She further noted that the breadth of the project demonstrated the Council's ambition and its commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes for residents, ensuring that the facility would be accessible and beneficial to all.

Councillor Morley thanked officers for keeping him informed of the financial aspects of the project and expressed his support for the proposals. He welcomed the benefits that the development would bring, noting that it would address a gap in existing provision and provide opportunities for a wide range of communities. He further observed that, whilst delivering important community benefits, the project also represented a commercial opportunity for the Council.

Councillor Lintern expressed support for the proposals and welcomed the decision to revise the project and refer the financial element to Full Council for consideration. She commended the approach taken, noting that it had avoided proceeding with the original proposals and the risk of associated overspend.

Councillor Squire commented that the scheme represented a positive opportunity for the Council and sought clarification on how the social value generated by the project would be measured and evidenced. In response, the Assistant Director for Leisure and Culture explained that a Green Book approved methodology would be used to assess social value, with the resulting outputs incorporated into the project's Key Performance Indicators.

Councillor Ring advised that a contingency budget had been incorporated into the proposals and reiterated his view that the project represented an excellent opportunity to enhance local provision. He highlighted both the commercial elements of the scheme and the significant social value it would generate, which together made the proposal particularly compelling. He also informed Cabinet that planning permission had been granted for an Adapted Sports Hub adjacent to the site, which would further enhance the area and improve accessibility for all users.

RESOLVED: Cabinet resolves to:

1. Approve the West Norfolk Racket and Community Sports Hub at Lynnsport at a cost of £2.2m.

2. Subject to approval for the funding by full council, to progress the project from Tier 3 to Tier 1 of the Capital Programme and for delivery and progress to be reported to an monitored by the Member Major Projects Board.

RECOMMENDED: That Full Council:

1. Approve an increase to the councils contribution from £866,000 to £1,200,000 to fund the scheme, an increase of £334,000.

2. Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to determine the most appropriate financing mix for the councils £1,200,000 funding of the project.