Issue - meetings

This report seeks Council approval to use capital savings identified from underspend on the allocated Cozenton Park Sports Centre budget to undertake a range of improvements to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre.

Background:

The report sought approval from Council to use capital savings identified from an underspend on the allocated Cozenton Park Sports Centre budget, to undertake a range of improvements to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre. Allocation of the underspend to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre, together with the planned investment in Hoo Sports Centre and The Strand, would mean that all five sports centres would benefit from Council investment over the coming year.

This would increase the longevity of the centres, improve sustainability through increased income generation opportunities, and not require any additional Council capital investment beyond what was already committed. This created the potential for ongoing improvements to the Council’s revenue budget position and aligned with the ambition to remove the operational subsidy required for the sports centres without increasing projected capital expenditure beyond that already within the capital budget.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Leisure, Councillor Gurung, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, Councillor Mahil, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed the addition of a new scheme to the capital programme for sports centre improvements, which would undertake improvements to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre with the aim of improving income generation.  This was proposed to be funded by £1.5 million capital investment savings arising from the delivery of the Cozenton Park Sports Centre scheme.

Note: Councillor Pearce requested that his vote against the decision be recorded in accordance with Council rule 12.6.

Background:

The report sought approval from Cabinet to use capital savings identified from an underspend on the allocated Cozenton Park Sports Centre budget, to undertake a range of improvements to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre. Allocation of the underspend to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre, together with the planned investment in Hoo Sports Centre and The Strand, would mean that all five sports centres would benefit from Council investment over the coming year. This would increase the longevity of the centres, improve sustainability through increased income generation opportunities, and not require any additional Council capital investment beyond what was already committed. This created the potential for ongoing improvements to the Council’s revenue budget position and aligned with the ambition to remove the operational subsidy required for the sports centres without increasing projected capital expenditure beyond that already within the capital budget.

Reasons:

Allocating this funding to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre would ensure income-generating investment in all Council-run sports centres across Medway without putting additional pressure on the Council’s capital budget. This would be integral to stated Member ambition to seek to remove the annual subsidy required to operate Medway Council sports centres.