Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

ITEMS REFERRED FROM OTHER COMMITTEES

 

 

Meeting: 15/01/2025 - Council (Item 68)

68 ITEMS REFERRED FROM OTHER COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 207 KB

To consider any items referred from other Committees.

 

5a) Referral from Extraordinary Cabinet – 26 November 2024 – East of Luton Strategic Masterplan Framework

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Chair advised that the referral 5A from Cabinet would be taken with the respective item on the agenda and referral 5B from Cabinet would be taken at the end of the agenda.

 

8A) Decarbonisation of Leisure Centres Update

 

RESOLVED: That Council proceed with Option 4a and approve the additional forecast capital and ongoing revenue costs (including revenue costs of capital) and note the ongoing project risks.

 

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

 

(1)   To identify the most appropriate way forward for the leisure centre decarbonisation project, taking into account both the environmental benefits of the project and the impact on the Council’s wider financial position.

 

(2)   Council has the responsibility to make decisions about any matter in the discharge of an executive function where the decision maker is minded to make it in a manner which would be contrary to the policy framework or contrary to/or not wholly in accordance with the budget.

 

(3)   To enable the Council and contractors to continue to meet the delivery time table for the project.

 

 

Minutes:

Audio recording – 3 hours 42 minutes 50 seconds

 

The Chair advised that the referral 5A from Cabinet would be taken with the respective item on the agenda.

 

5B)      DECARBONISATION OF LEISURE CENTRES PROJECT

 

Councillor Mick Debenham, as Executive Member for Leisure, Environment and Green Spaces, presented the referral from Cabinet and advised that:

 

·       The project to decarbonise the three leisure centres in the district was now at detailed design stage and had been made possible because of a £7.74m government grant, alongside the capital contribution from the Council.

·       Issues had been identified with the efficiency and running costs of the heat pumps required for the project.

·       There were larger and more efficient heat pumps available, but these were bespoke and required a longer lead time.

·       Initially it was thought that the larger pumps could not be purchased, but following confirmation from Salix who provided the grant, these could be ordered and still meeting the requirements of the funding.

·       The design process would need to be completed before final cost implications could be provided.

·       Cabinet considered all options and considered Option 4a as best, as detailed in paragraph 8.9 of the report.

 

The following Members asked questions:

 

·       Councillor Ralph Muncer

·       Councillor Matt Barnes

·       Councillor Jon Clayden

·       Councillor Paul Ward

 

In response to questions, the Service Director – Place advised that:

 

·       The cost implications of Option 4 were between a £37k and £117k increase in running costs compared to current prices. The quantity surveyor was mildly optimistic this could be brought down further throughout the design process.

·       Some of this increase was not due to heat pumps, but with the solar PV, as not as many solar PV panels could be installed on the roofs as had been anticipated.

·       Wilmott Dixon were looking at two types of larger air source heat pumps and the capital implications of these would be £225k rise for one option or up to £585k for the other. There was also a redesign fee of £86k.

·       In total, there would be between a £311k and £688k rise in capital costs, based on current assumptions.

·       An external lawyer weas looking at the contract to ensure the Council was protected in case of any insolvency of the provider.

·       Up to date capital forecasts had been provided and there were no further increases expected. Risks were being managed by the project board.

·       The learner pool at North Herts Leisure Centre used a gas boiler for heating which was too new to include in this round of funding. The boilers at Hitchin outdoor pool were almost new and therefore could also not be included.

 

In response to questions, the Service Director – Resources advised that:

 

·       The table on page 8 of the report highlighted the additional electricity that would be required to be purchased, net of any on site generation by the solar PV.

·       The implications would be factored in as part of the budget proposals for 2025/26 onwards.

·       The report presented in summer set out the additional cost of investment,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68