Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Members are required to notify any substitutions by midday on the day of the meeting.

Late substitutions will not be accepted and Members attending as a substitute without having given the due notice will not be able to take part in the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence from Members.

Audio Recording – 1 minute 9 seconds

There were no apologies for absence from Members.

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.  Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(2)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(3)   The Chair advised that for the purposes of clarification clause 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution does not apply to this meeting.

(4)   The Chair reminded Members of the adopted North Herts Scrutiny Charter and the need to ensure that the meeting was conducted with independence, initiative and integrity. The full Charter was available to Members via the Scrutiny Intranet pages.

Audio Recording – 1 minute 19 seconds

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(2)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(3)   The Chair advised that for the purposes of clarification clause 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution does not apply to this meeting.

(4)   The Chair reminded Members of the adopted North Herts Scrutiny Charter and the need to ensure that the meeting was conducted with independence, initiative and integrity. The full Charter was available to Members via the Scrutiny Intranet pages.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

Audio Recording – 2 minutes 17 seconds

There was no public participation at this meeting.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That Overview and Scrutiny noted the projected provisional increase in the capital budget to £16.166m.

(2)   That Overview and Scrutiny noted the current estimated one-off revenue impact of £900k in 2025/26 through loss of income, due to partial and full facility closures.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Overview and Scrutiny noted the report and provided comment to Cabinet on the report.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To enable Overview and Scrutiny the opportunity to scrutinise the progress to date of the leisure decarbonisation project, including spend to date and anticipated increases in capital budget expenditure, as well as loss of revenue implications, prior to the contract award decision being considered by Cabinet on 20 May 2025.

Audio Recording – 2 minutes 21 seconds

Councillor Mick Debenham, as Executive Member for Environment, Leisure and Green Spaces, presented the report entitled ‘Decarbonisation of Leisure Centres Contract Award Update’ and highlighted that:

·       In 2024 the Council was awarded a £7.74 million of grant funding for decarbonisation, to be used at the leisure centres in Royston, Hitchin and Letchworth.

·       Added to the decarbonisation works were an extension to the gym and change village refurbishment at Royston and a new change village at North Herts Leisure Centre (NHLC).

·       In March 2025 Wilmot Dixon Construction (WDC) submitted a provisional Contract sum of £15.895 million, which was being negotiated by the quantity surveyor for the Council, Varsity Consulting (VC).

·       The final figure for the construction would be presented to the Cabinet meeting on the 20 May, where a decision on awarding the construction contract would be considered.

·       Due to conditions of the grant funding, early equipment orders were placed meaning the project had already spent £6.709 million.

·       As part of the works there would need to be closures at the leisure centres which would unfortunately cause disruption to customers and the Council would need to cover the revenue impact and this had been valued at approximately £900K by Everyone Active (EA).

·       This figure could change depending on improvements in the programme of works, for example redeploying staff to the outdoor swimming pools or construction taking less time than predicted.

·       Cabinet would be asked to consider an extension of the outdoor pool opening until the end of October at the meeting on the 20 May, after that meeting the full plan would be finalised.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Ralph Muncer

·       Councillor Louise Peace

·       Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

·       Councillor Martin Prescott

·       Councillor Jon Clayden

·       Councillor Claire Winchester

·       Councillor Laura Williams

·       Councillor Matt Barnes

·       Councillor Donna Wright

In response to questions, Councillor Mick Debenham advised that:

·       The potential cost implications at the start of the project were lower, however due to unforeseen circumstances, the structure at Hitchin created a health and safety risk, and therefore while work was carried out on the roof a period of partial closure would be required, which accounted for a significant increase in the loss of revenue.

·       Hitchin works had to be delayed due to a bat survey, therefore could not start in the summer 2025.

·       Membership would not be charged for the time of closures, and EA members would be able to visit other EA centres nationwide.

·       Schools who currently used facilities affected would be contacted.

·       The project was a design and build contract which transferred more risk onto the contractor. WDC was cognisant of the risks, having completed the first stage tender, therefore VC have advised 5% would be reasonable.

·       The Council had spent the grant on equipment already, so the project should go ahead despite the increased costs. Failure to proceed would mean the Council would be required to store, and arrange disposal of, the already purchased equipment.

In response to questions, the Director - Environment advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.