Agenda item

The report of the Exective Manager – Communities is To Follow.

It was RESOLVED that

a)           firm D be appointed as the preferred contractor for the full development, subject to external funding being secured;

Or

b)           if external funding for the office is not secured, the tender be accepted for the leisure centre and community hall build only, with a further report to be submitted to a future Cabinet meeting, to seek a way forward regarding the office element of the development prior to accepting tender for the full development.

The Leader presented the report of the Executive Manager for Communities, providing an update on the Chapel Lane development.

The Leader gave a brief overview of the project timeline and referred to the factors that had led to the decision to build a facility at Bingham, to meet the needs of a growing community and to provide more up to date employment and leisure opportunities.  The Leader referred to the establishment of the cross-party Member Working Group, which had met seven times, to shape the design process, with particular emphasis on reducing carbon omissions going forward.  Cabinet was advised that the Group had met on 26 November 2020, to endorse the tender report, and it had supported and approved that process.  It was noted that the tender responses had been comprehensively appraised and reviewed on a cost and quality basis, to ensure that the project would be delivered on budget, on time and to the high standards expected by the Council.  The Leader confirmed that following that appraisal, Firm D had been selected and was proposed to be the preferred contractor. It was reiterated that the report did not cover the operational side of the leisure centre development, or for the remaining site at Toot Hill School. It was noted that in respect of financing, there would be two external sources, from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the European Regional Development Sustainable Urban Development Fund, grant awards pending.  Cabinet was reminded that the tender covered the three aspects of the proposed development, the leisure centre, community hall and office hub.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Edyvean thanked the members of the Member Working Group for their hard work and confirmed that the Group would continue to meet until the project was completed.  Cabinet was advised that the Council should hear before the end of the year, if it has been successful in bidding for the external grant funding.  It was hoped that those bids would be successful and the Council could proceed with Recommendation A.  However, if the outcome of external funding was not successful, Cabinet was advised that the development of the office hub would not immediately take place, as other sources of funding would need to be assessed, and that was covered by Recommendation B.  Cabinet noted that if it was considered to be feasible and financially viable at a later date, the office hub could still be developed.  The importance of not delaying the development of the leisure centre and community hub was reiterated, given their importance to the residents of Bingham and the surrounding areas.  

The Leader endorsed the comments of Councillor Edyvean in respect of the work of the Member Working Group, and reiterated how important it was to have that continued input, particularly during the design stage, as previously highlighted, when Councillors had been involved in both the design and delivery of the Arena development.  The Leader also stressed how delighted he was that despite the pandemic; the Council remained ambitious, and would be delivering a key strategic and community facility, for both residents in Bingham and the surrounding areas.  It was hoped that the office hub would be developed to provide a boost for local businesses, and that the much needed community facilities would be welcomed.

It was RESOLVED that

a)           firm D be appointed as the preferred contractor for the full development, subject to external funding being secured;

Or

b)           if external funding for the office is not secured, the tender be accepted for the leisure centre and community hall build only, with a further report to be submitted to a future Cabinet meeting, to seek a way forward regarding the office element of the development prior to accepting tender for the full development.