Issue - items at meetings - King Alfred Condition Survey - Urgent Works

Joint report of the Director of Environment and the Interim Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached)

That the information contained in paragraph’s 3.0 to 3.5 regarding the Karis/ING be noted.

That the it be noted that the initial condition assessments and surveys of the King Alfred Leisure Centre have identified approximately £1.5 million of health and safety and maintenance works as detailed in Part B of Appendix 1 to keep the building operational.

That an allocation of £859,000 be approved to the capital programme (from the £2m capital reserves identified for affordable housing on the King Alfred site) to carry out the urgent health and safety items indicated in Part A of Appendix 1.

111.1  The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and the Interim Director of Finance and Resources in respect of refurbishment of the King Alfred Leisure Centre and the redevelopment of the whole King Alfred/RNR site (for copy see minute book).

111.2  Councillor Mitchell noted that there had been suggestions from local councillors that a primary school might be developed on the site. She asked if this was a serious proposal.

111.3  Councillor Kemble commented that the Local Plan did not allow for a school to be developed on the site.

111.4  Councillor Mitchell noted the 1.5 million funding required to maintain the current building. She asked how long the works would hold good.

111.5  The Chairman noted that the funding was ring-fenced and that details about the programme of works would be the subject of a future report.

111.6  Councillor Mitchell asked when plans would be produced that considered the future of the site.

111.7  Councillor Mears noted that until the current agreement with the Developer had ceased it would have been inappropriate for the Administration to be publicly discussing alternative plans. Work was ongoing considering the use of the site and any plans would take into account the views of residents so that any development was acceptable to the city.

111.8  Councillor Mears invited Councillor Taylor to address the meeting.

111.9  Councillor Taylor was sorry that the opportunity to develop low cost housing had been lost. He noted that any new plans should be sustainable and suggested that there might be an opportunity to exploit the Governments current thinking on boosting funding to public works. He suggested that any new plans should take heed of the 2004 planning brief.

111.10 RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1) That the it be noted that the initial condition assessments and surveys of the King Alfred Leisure Centre have identified approximately £1.5 million of health and safety and maintenance works as detailed in Part B of Appendix 1 to keep the building operational.

(2) That an allocation of £859,000 be approved to the capital programme (from the £2m capital reserves identified for affordable housing on the King Alfred site) to carry out the urgent health and safety items indicated in Part A of Appendix 1.