a. Exmouth Pavilion Flytower and Auditorium works for £335,100 in 2024/25 and £444,900 in 2025/26
b. Exmouth Pavilion Roof works for £5,000 in 2024/25 and £504,000 in 2025/26
c. East Devon Tennis Centre Roof works for £791,095 in 2024/25 and £21,405 in 2025/26
Initial Project Proposal Documents as presented to BSCAP are attached for each, implications of which will be presented verbally by Officers.
Minutes:
The Assistant Director – Place, Assets and Commercialisation introduced this item, inviting Members to consider referrals from the Budget Setting and Capital Allocations Panel (BSCAP), before recommendation or not for inclusion in the Capital Programme.
BSCAP had referred these proposals to the Forum so that they could be considered in relation to the Leisure Strategy and the wider position with LED.
Members had received the Initial Project Proposal Documents as presented to BSCAP for the following proposals:
1. Exmouth Pavilion Flytower and Auditorium works for £335,100 in 2024/25 and £444,900 in 2025/26
2. Exmouth Pavilion Roof works for £5,000 in 2024/25 and £504,000 in 2025/26
3. East Devon Tennis Centre Roof works for £791,095 in 2024/25 and £21,405 in 2025/26.
The Assistant Director and the Principal Building Surveyor presented the business cases, outlining why the works were necessary and the implications for the sites in the eventuality that the works are not progressed.
Questions, clarification and discussion included the following points:
· The works to the Exmouth Pavilion Flytower and Auditorium are mainly related to health and safety.
· The Exmouth Pavilion Roof works are to reroof the whole of the Pavilion building.
· The Tennis Centre roof is 25 years old and in need of replacement.
· These are community facilities that are very well used with a large catchment area, and the Leisure Strategy identifies the Tennis Centre as the only indoor tennis facility in East Devon.
· The facilities are part of the Leisure Strategy and the Exmouth Pavilion is part of the Cultural Strategy. Both facilities tie into the Tourism Strategy and bring people into the town, supporting the local economy.
· Whilst the facilities are popular, more needs to be done by LED to maximise patronage in order to get best value from the assets and ensure they are used at all times, and this was identified during the Cultural Strategy consultation work.
· The focus is on the capital cost for material significant works, to keep the facilities going and protect the longevity of the sites.
· There will be a revenue implication for the council due to the cost of borrowing from the Public Works Loans Board, and this cost has been allowed for.
· Whilst the sites are in exposed locations, flat roofs and metal roofs should last for 25 years, with pitch and slate roofs expected to last considerably longer. Loans for the repairs will be repaid over a 40 year term. The Finance Director indicated that total borrowings across the authority are worked out as an average.
· Whilst these assets are on the council’s portfolio and until a decision is taken to dispose any of them, the council needs to ensure that they are well maintained and fit for pupose. Maintaining them in good condition in some instances will also mean that they will fetch a better price should the council ever need to dispose of them.
· An Asset Management Plan will enable the council to forward plan, with assets scored according to financial and non-financial performance. This will help to inform decisions regarding the assets, going forward.
· Funding is constrained and the council must research every grant that is available.
RECOMMENDED to Cabinet:
1. That the following bids be included in the Capital Programme:
a. Exmouth Pavilion Flytower and Auditorium works for £335,100 in 2024/25 and £444,900 in 2025/26
b. Exmouth Pavilion Roof works for £5,000 in 2024/25 and £504,000 in 2025/26
c. East Devon Tennis Centre Roof works for £791,095 in 2024/25 and £21,405 in 2025/26.
Supporting documents: