Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of Services

The Group Director of Services submitted a report (previously circulated) to request approval to vary the capital budget for 2023/24 by £400K and release the capital to enable repairs to the toddler pool and retaining wall at the Dolphin Centre.

The submitted report stated that a Special Meeting of the Cabinet had been convened on 11 August 2023 to give consideration to extending the Dolphin Centre Pool project, in order to undertake additional works, and that approval was provided to progress areas of work in the vicinity of the changing area.

A second report was considered by Cabinet on 5 September 2023, which outlined further works proposed to the toddler pool area and a retaining wall. It was reported that these areas had previously been highlighted to Members at the Special Meeting of the Cabinet on 11 August 2023 as needing work in a revised time frame of two years. The submitted report outlined the financial, operational and customer benefits of undertaking these works as part of the current project.

RESOLVED – That the Capital Budget for 2023/24 be varied by £400K, and that the capital be released to accelerate the repairs in the Dolphin Centre identified in the submitted report as an extension to the current project. 

REASONS -  (a) To enable all the essential works are carried, meaning the toddler pool will not have to be closed for repairs in 18 months and that the toddler pool can be reopened at the earliest opportunity.

(b) To address structural issues within the base of the retaining wall in the plant room.

(c) Undertaking all the works that have been identified as needing repair within two years as part of the current project could save cost increases arising from construction inflation and lost income of up to £200K when compared to re-starting a project in 18 months’ time.