Agenda item

The Forum received an initial feasibility study report which detailed a range of options to reduce energy consumption at East Devon swimming pools. 

The objective of the study was to develop and agree a medium to long term vision for the leisure centres within the LED Leisure Management Contract, and the Flamingo Pool in Axminster which sits outside of the Management Contract.  Swimming pools are large energy consumers; EDDC are the landlords of the three public pools in Exmouth, Honiton and Sidmouth and see the need for them to be as carbon neutral as possible before the target date of 2040.

LED, who operate EDDC’s three pools and the district’s other community leisure centres, are experiencing a significantly increased financial burden from energy prices, which have had to be passed on to the Council.

It is for the LED and EDDC to work together on looking at the principles of change and what is involved with this process.  The study report focused on current energy savings schemes/equipment and which sites would be best suited to which principal change.

The LED CEO summarised the key learnings from the feasibility study, and his recommendations:

·        Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) are not the panacea; Sidmouth Pool had modern and highly efficient boilers installed only a couple of years ago and there would be no financial savings to be had by replacing these with ASHP at the present time.  When the boilers are due to be replaced in 10-15 years time, ASHP technology is likely to have improved and also be cheaper, and at that point it might be appropriate to consider heating the pool through ASHP.

·        ASHP could be put into Exmouth Leisure Centre, and the Deep Green technology would complement the ASHP, but the recommendation that came out of the feasibility study is that boilers are still used for the domestic hot water system.

·        No two pools are the same; all pools could benefit from the technology but a phased approach would be appropriate.

·        There is an opportunity to apply for government funding from a £63 million support fund for public swimming pools announced by the Chancellor as part of the Spring Budget, £40 million of which is for decarbonisation of public swimming pools.  An application would need to be submitted by July 2023.

·        Since the Council have budgeted for consultancy support, the LED CEO was of the view that consultants could be appointed to come up with a timetable of technology improvements for the swimming pools, using this initial feasibility study as a starting point.

The Assistant Director Countryside & Leisure agreed it would be appropriate for consultants to help with prioritising the sites and supporting the Council to capitalise on available funding, which includes a tranche of money that has been launched through the England Rural Prosperity Fund.

The Principal Building Surveyor stated that it is the intention for consultants to put together a plan to decarbonise the sites in the first instance, which will then be used to secure funding for the works.  It will be necessary to move quickly, and the process for securing funding is highly competitive.

The Director Housing & Environment remarked that experts at Exeter University could provide the consultancy support, and the Council is able to access this through its membership of the SW Energy and Environment Group. 

Discussion and clarification included the following:

·        LED has developed a good relationship with the board of Flamingo Pool; LED included the pool in the initial audit and has provided free advice up to this point.  With their agreement, it is intended to incorporate the Flamingo Pool into the consultancy work on the understanding that they will pay a proportion of the cost.  Thereafter, it will be for them to decide if they can afford to go ahead with the recommendations.  LED will try to help by signposting them towards funding opportunities.  The Assistant Director Countryside & Leisure added that the Flamingo Pool is a much loved facility and the Council want to assist the board as much as it can.

·        It is the understanding of the Finance Director and the Assistant Director Countryside & Leisure that whilst they became aware of Flamingo Pool’s financial issues, no request was received for direct cash support.  Cllr Arnott indicated that this is contrary to a public statement put out by Cllr Hall which reads ‘When it was asked in 2022 for Axminster Swimming Pool to be financially supported equally, as is the case for other towns within East Devon, the independent administration said they could not afford to.’.  Cllr Arnott wanted to put on record that this statement is completely untrue.

·        Cllr Hookway proposed, seconded by Cllr Arnott, that the Forum recommends to Cabinet that consultants be appointed to advise Council and LED about the most appropriate way of moving forward for achieving carbon neutral swimming pools and leisure centres.

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet:

That consultants be appointed to advise Council and LED about the most appropriate way of moving forward for achieving carbon neutral swimming pools and leisure centres.