To approve a new capital budget for the re-opening of the Hereford leisure pool.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Commissioning, Procurement and Assets which recommended the addition of a new capital budget to undertake reinstatement works to the Hereford leisure pool. The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member Commissioning, Procurement and Assets who moved the recommendation. She explained that the pool was an important facility to support health and wellbeing and its social value necessitated its prompt reopening. The location of the pool, on an area which was susceptible to flooding, would be reviewed in the core strategy and leisure strategy however whilst this review took place it was important that the pool was reopened as a facility for all Herefordshire residents.

The following principal points were raised during the debate:

·         The pool was not just a leisure pool but was also used by competitive athletes who relied on the facility for training.

·         It was recognised that it was essential that the pool reopened to ensure children could be taught to swim to protect against the risk of drowning in local rivers.

·         The investment to reopen the pool was supported but it was noted that provision for similar facilities in Bromyard and Ross-on-Wye had not been forthcoming. There needed to be equitable investment across the county.

·         Members had been approached by local residents calling for the prompt reopening of the pool.

·         The reopening of the pool was supported whilst work was undertaken to investigate an alternative location for the facility.

·         The health and wellbeing benefits of the facility were highlighted.

·         There was concern that the works required had not been covered by insurance due to outstanding remedial works. It was hoped that lessons would be learned and that council assets would be reviewed to ensure they were insured.

The Cabinet Member Commissioning, Procurement and Assets explained that the inspection of assets would now be a proactive approach with full condition surveys undertaken. This would have implications to the budget to be determined in February 2021. The leisure strategy represented a Herefordshire approach to facilities throughout the county and would respond to the issues in the market towns raised during the debate.

The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services seconded the recommendation and explained that there were lessons to be learned including the proper funding of asset maintenance and insurance cover. The lack of cover at the leisure pool was the consequence of historic budget cuts to maintenance and insurance budgets. There was also learning around where strategic assets were located to ensure they were fit for purpose in the long-term.

The recommendation in the report was put to the recorded vote and was carried by a simple majority of Council.

FOR (48): Councillors: Graham Andrews; Paul Andrews; Polly Andrews; Jenny Bartlett; Chris Bartrum; Christy Bolderson; Dave Boulter; Sebastian Bowen; Tracy Bowes; Ellie Chowns; Pauline Crockett; Gemma Davies; Toni Fagan; Elizabeth Foxton; Carole Gandy; Kema Guthrie; John Hardwick; John Harrington; Liz Harvey; Jennie Hewitt; Kath Hey; David Hitchiner; Phillip Howells; Helen I’Anson; Terry James; Peter Jinman; Tony Johnson; Graham Jones; Mike  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17

To recommend to Council the addition of a new capital budget to ensure the swift reopening of the Hereford leisure pool that has been closed since suffering from flooding in October 2019.

The cabinet member commissioning, procurement and assets introduced the report. She noted the importance of the leisure pool to the whole community and the need to reopen as soon as possible. She also stated that this was not the right location for a pool for the longer term and alternative locations needed to be considered.

In discussion of the report cabinet members noted:

•               The importance of the pool to the whole community in Hereford and to the wider county;

•               The council’s insurers had confirmed that subject to work taking place they would continue to insure the pool building;

•               The works to the power supply should ensure that the pumping system was more resilient in the future and would mitigate against future flood events;

•               Advice had been sought from the council’s own experts and from the insurer to make sure that the works were appropriate, compliant with standards and that all due processes had been followed in costing the proposals;

•               Some of the repair work would have been necessary within the next couple of years but the opportunity was being taken to bring these forward alongside works required by the flooding;

•               The council would be explicitly taking account of risks arising from the increasing frequency and severity of significant weather events in future decision making.

Group leaders and representatives were invited to give the views and queries of their respective groups. Key points were noted as:

•               Finding an alternative site would be challenging and would take some time, in the meantime the importance of getting the existing site re-opened was recognised;

•               Regular maintenance of assets was important and the council should be mindful of what further works might need to be done on the current building in light of the amount of spend;

•               The tenant was involved in the process to agree the scope of works and were picking up their costs.

In addition to the recommendation set out in the report the cabinet member commissioning, procurement and assets proposed that authority be delegated to the director for economy and place to progress procurement of the works.

The cabinet member finance and corporate services proposed an additional recommendation that a new location for the Hereford leisure pool be investigated as part of the update of the core strategy. The cabinet member commissioning, procurement and assets amended this to also include reference to the development of the leisure strategy.

Both additional recommendations were seconded by the cabinet member health and adult wellbeing.

It was agreed:

(a)          To recommend to Council the addition of a new capital budget to fund un-insured regulatory and essential works required at the Hereford leisure pool to be funded by existing budgets wherever possible and, failing that, new prudential borrowing not expected to exceed £505k;

(b)          that authority be delegated to the director for economy and place to procure and undertake the necessary works; and

(c)          that the review of the core strategy and leisure strategy considers the location  ...  view the full minutes text for item 173