Agenda item

1.      That RPLC ceases to provide sports and leisure facilities and is closed to the public following the opening of the WS&LP at Bar End in the early part of 2021.

2.      That RPLC be decommissioned by way of an internal soft strip and part demolition, with the timetable to be linked with the build schedule on the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park.

3.      That capital expenditure in 2020/21 of up to £410,000 is approved to:

·         decommission the River Park Leisure Centre building by soft stripping and securing;

·         undertake works to ensure continued utility and services supplies to clubs remaining on site; and

·         provide temporary toilet facilities until a future use for the site is determined or other facilities become available.

4.      That an annual revenue budget from 2021/22 of £40,000 be approved for CCTV hire and monitoring, building inspections, and cleaning the temporary toilets.

5.      That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director: Place to determine and undertake the procurement process, appoint the relevant contractors to enable the decommissioning of RPLC (including security and continuity of utility services) and the provision of temporary toilets; and to negotiate and agree contractual heads of terms with the appointed contractors.

6.      That authority be delegated to Service Lead Legal to enter in to contracts to carry out works to enable decommissioning of the RPLC and provision of temporary toilets.

7.         That work to determine options for the future use of the site is delayed until the current budget position relating to the COVID-19 emergency is finalised and the emerging development market is better understood and to bring a report back to cabinet in Q2/Q3 2021.

Councillor Learney introduced the report which outlined options for securing and decommissioning the RPLC site and recommended a preferred approach in advance of site redevelopment.  The matter had been considered by the Business and Housing Policy Committee at its meeting on 22 June 2020 where Members were generally content with the recommendations but requested that Cabinet progress a resolution on the longer term future of the site as soon as possible.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Lumby, Miller and Read addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Lumby

Appreciated the intention to adopt a cautious approach due to the current condition of the property market.  However, believed that the existing legal covenant could offer a wider range of future options than suggested at the previous Cabinet.  He asked that the Council prioritise finishing the research into possible options and mitigation of risks.

Councillor Miller

Agreed with Councillor Lumby that decisions on the future use of the site should be prioritised, emphasising that the RPLC site was an important asset for the whole district.

Councillor Read

Queries regarding the extent and exact location of asbestos in the building.  Queried whether the Winchester Town Forum would be responsible for the provision of temporary public conveniences in the area (as this would be the responsibility of a parish council in a parished area of the district).

The Strategic Director: Place explained the reasons for the proposed delay to decisions on future options for the site, as outlined in the report. 

Councillor Learney also responded to comments made including highlighting that the ongoing work on the Vision for Winchester which would link in to future proposals.  With regard to the legal covenant, she emphasised that examining differing interpretations was a long, complicated process.  Funding for the temporary public conveniences would be met from the general budget but the Winchester Town Forum would be required to make financial provision for a long term solution.

Cabinet agreed the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the report.

RESOLVED:

1.          That RPLC ceases to provide sports and leisure facilities and is closed to the public following the opening of the WS&LP at Bar End in the early part of 2021.

2.          That RPLC be decommissioned by way of an internal soft strip and part demolition, with the timetable to be linked with the build schedule on the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park.

3.          That capital expenditure in 2020/21 of up to £410,000 is approved to:

a)    decommission the River Park Leisure Centre building by soft stripping and securing;

b)    undertake works to ensure continued utility and services supplies to clubs remaining on site; and

c)    provide temporary toilet facilities until a future use for the site is determined or other facilities become available.

4.          That an annual revenue budget from 2021/22 of £40,000 be approved for CCTV hire and monitoring, building inspections, and cleaning the temporary toilets.

5.          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director: Place to determine and undertake the procurement process, appoint the relevant contractors to enable the decommissioning of RPLC (including security and continuity of utility services) and the provision of temporary toilets; and to negotiate and agree contractual heads of terms with the appointed contractors.

6.          That authority be delegated to Service Lead Legal to enter in to contracts to carry out works to enable decommissioning of the RPLC and provision of temporary toilets.

7.          That work to determine options for the future use of the site is delayed until the current budget position relating to the COVID-19 emergency is finalised and the emerging development market is better understood and to bring a report back to cabinet in Q2/Q3 2021.