Issue - meetings

Background:

This report sought permission for an additional £1.4m funding to be added to the capital programme in order to proceed with the proposed redevelopment of Strood Sports Centre. Redevelopment of the centre will create a facility that reflects the needs of customers and provides opportunities to increase revenues helping to make the operation of Medway Council sports centres more cost effective.

It was noted that in March 2013 a Gateway 1 report for the £1.9m refurbishment of Strood Sports Centre had been approved, and since then a project team had been developing proposals for its redevelopment. Council approved the addition of the Strood Sports Centre redevelopment to the capital programme in April 2014, with funding of £500,000 at that stage, pending Gateway 3 approval of the substantive works.

It was reported that Gateway 3 approval had been granted at Procurement Board on 19 June 2014, with the award of the successful tender demonstrating that the original budget projection of £1.9m was robust.

Approval of the additional £1.4m funding (financed through Prudential Borrowing) for the project would allow the contract for the substantive works to be issued.

Reasons:

Approval of funding will allow the redevelopment of Strood Sports Centre to proceed, with the award of the contract for the substantive development works.