Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendation from the Place and Resources Overview Committee of 28 July 2022.

(a)  That the Corporate Director for Assets & Property be authorised to agree the terms of the schedule of surrender payments and timeline for Weymouth College to surrender the lease at Redlands Community Sports Hub.

(b)  That the Corporate Director for Assets & Property be authorised to agree the terms to complete the early lease surrender with Weymouth College, agreeing the level of surrender payment and the grant of a new 30-year lease to Active Dorset for Redlands Community Sports Hub, with a break clause for either party at 5 years.

(c)  That the Council agrees to insure and maintain the fabric of the buildings, boundary fencing, car parks, access roads and any other built infrastructure at Redlands Community Sports Hub for the period of the lease to the extent of maintaining a wind, watertight and accessible site.

(d)  That the Council acknowledges the 8-year revenue forecast set out at Appendix 3 of the report and agrees to provide cash flow support (if required) for the period of the initial business case and the 8-year revenue projections forecast to be built into the Dorset Council Medium Term Financial Plan.

(e)  That the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee be asked to undertake a review of the arrangements at an appropriate time.

Reason for the decision

The Council recognises the financial challenges for Weymouth College in continuing to manage the community facilities at Redlands and granting an early lease surrender will enable them to focus solely on their educational priorities.

Active Dorset have a passion for helping people to be more active, and their exciting plans for developing the volunteer led community café and sports fields will enable far greater community use for all ages.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property set out the report on the ongoing operational arrangements at the Redlands Community Sports Hub. The proposed keyholder model would give users and volunteers the opportunity to show their support and play a more active role.  In presenting the report he proposed the recommendation.

In seconding the recommendation, the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Communities and Customer Services advised that the report and its recommendations was considered and supported by the Place and Resources Overview Committee on 28 July 2022. She further agreed that the proposals were a good outcome for the local community and sports centre.

Cllr P Barrow, local ward member welcomed the report and its proposals.

Decision

(a)  That the Corporate Director for Assets & Property be authorised to agree the terms of the schedule of surrender payments and timeline for Weymouth College to surrender the lease at Redlands Community Sports Hub.

(b)  That the Corporate Director for Assets & Property be authorised to agree the terms to complete the early lease surrender with Weymouth College, agreeing the level of surrender payment and the grant of a new 30-year lease to Active Dorset for Redlands Community Sports Hub, with a break clause for either party at 5 years.

(c)  That the Council agrees to insure and maintain the fabric of the buildings, boundary fencing, car parks, access roads and any other built infrastructure at Redlands Community Sports Hub for the period of the lease to the extent of maintaining a wind, watertight and accessible site.

(d)  That the Council acknowledges the 8-year revenue forecast set out at Appendix 3 of the report and agrees to provide cash flow support (if required) for the period of the initial business case and the 8-year revenue projections forecast to be built into the Dorset Council Medium Term Financial Plan.

(e)  That the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee be asked to undertake a review of the arrangements at an appropriate time.

Reason for the decision

The Council recognises the financial challenges for Weymouth College in continuing to manage the community facilities at Redlands and granting an early lease surrender will enable them to focus solely on their educational priorities.

Active Dorset have a passion for helping people to be more active, and their exciting plans for developing the volunteer led community café and sports fields will enable far greater community use for all ages.

To consider a report of the Service Manager for Leisure Services and Corporate Director for Assets and Property.

Please note this report has 3 exempt appendices.

The committee considered a report of the Service Manager for Leisure Services and Corporate Director for Assets and Property, which set out the ongoing operational arrangements at the Redlands Community Sports Hub.

The Chairman noted that there were three exempt appendices associated with the report and that the committee would need to move into exempt business if councillors wished to discuss the contents of these.

Councillors considered the issues arising from the report and the following areas were covered during the discussion:

·       Discussion held and support expressed for the proposed key holder model, where community users and volunteers took on more responsibility for the site operations.  It was noted that Active Dorset would provide support to local clubs and working with the national sport governing bodies, ensuring that issues such as health and safety, risk assessments and site security were covered

·       The importance of leisure provision from a health and wellbeing perspective was highlighted

·       It was important that the community sports hub facilities were well patronised in order to balance the financial income and outgoings in line with the Active Dorset business plan

·       It was suggested that the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee review the arrangements at an appropriate time following the Cabinet decision, to see how the arrangement was working

·       The Executive Director of Place referred to the links with health and wellbeing and a suggestion from the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Customer and Community Services that a councillor webinar be held in this area, to include involvement from the Public Health Team.

Recommendation to Cabinet

1.          That the Corporate Director for Assets & Property be authorised to agree the terms of the schedule of surrender payments and timeline for Weymouth College to surrender the lease at Redlands Community Sports Hub.

2.          That the Corporate Director for Assets & Property be authorised to agree the terms to complete the early lease surrender with Weymouth College, agreeing the level of surrender payment and the grant of a new 30-year lease to Active Dorset for Redlands Community Sports Hub, with a break clause for either party at 5 years.

3.          That the Council agrees to insure and maintain the fabric of the buildings, boundary fencing, car parks, access roads and any other built infrastructure at Redlands Community Sports Hub for the period of the lease to the extent of maintaining a wind, watertight and accessible site.

4.          That The Council acknowledges the 8-year revenue forecast set out at Appendix 3 and agrees to provide cash flow support (if required) for the period of the initial business case and the 8-year revenue projections forecast to be built into the Dorset Council Medium Term Financial Plan.

5.          That the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee be asked to undertake a review of the arrangements at an appropriate time.