Agenda item

(a)  That the Assistant Director for Community and Skills and the Assistant Director for Assets, Infrastructure and Regeneration be authorised to implement the next steps as set out in section 9 of the report, following consultation with the Commissioners for Community and Leisure, Neighbourhoods & Renewal, Environment & Open Spaces and Health & Wellbeing including:

  i.  Agree the best scheme for the ice arena for the budget available, working initially with Morgan Sindall through the Slough Regeneration Partnership.

  ii.  Develop and assess options to make a recommendation for a new leisure centre.

  iii.  Develop a 5 year implementation plan for the leisure strategy.

The Assistant Director, Community & Skills introduced a report updating Commissioners on the implementation of the Leisure Strategy approved by the Cabinet in July 2014.

The strategy aimed to get ‘more people, more active, more often’ and Commissioners were advised of the progress made in relation to the modernisation of core leisure facilities and implementation of a community based programme of activity that delivered leisure opportunities in open spaces and community venues.  Members were also advised that the full 5-year implementation plan for the leisure strategy was on track to be considered by Cabinet in December 2014.  Since the Cabinet had agreed to refurbish the ice arena at its meeting in July, a full structural survey had been completed and Morgan Sindall had been engaged to develop designs and plans to take account of the site layout and future development opportunities at the Montem Lane site.  The project budget of £3.5m would deliver a wide range of improvements including a two-storey extension with frontage on the A4, a new reception area with space for a café and potential space for the leisure contractor to introduce adventure activities.  The initial outcomes of the Community Sport Activation Fund ‘Get Active’ programme were also reported and it was noted that launch events had been held and 80 people had registered with the scheme to date.

The Commissioner for Community & Leisure welcomed the progress that had been made and emphasised the ambition to maximise the linkages between strategies for leisure, parks and health & wellbeing.  The Cabinet noted the report and agreed to widen the delegation to both the Assistant Directors for Community & Skill and Assets, Infrastructure and Regeneration, following consultation with all relevant Commissioners to demonstrate the corporate buy in to the delivery of the Leisure Strategy.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Assistant  Director for Community & Skills and the Assistant Director for Assets, Infrastructure & Regeneration be authorised to implement the next steps as set out in section 9 of the report, following consultation with the Commissioners for Community & Leisure, Neighbourhoods & Renewal, Environment & Open Spaces and Health & Wellbeing, including:

  i.  Agree the best scheme for the ice arena for the budget available, working initially with Morgan Sindall through the Slough Regeneration Partnership.

  ii.  Develop and assess options to make a recommendation for a new leisure centre.

  iii.  Develop a 5 year implementation plan for the leisure strategy.