Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1          This report updates Members on the development and implementation of the £105m leisure assets capital programme.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the contents of this report and

i)       note the programme level update in respect of the new facilities under the leisure programme as outlined at 3.1;

 

ii)      Olympia - note the performance indicators from the new Olympia at 3.3 below;

 

iii)     Robinson – note that a separate report regarding the naming of the Robinson Centre is on the agenda for discussion at Committee today;

 

iv)     Templemore - note that Templemore has been awarded £5m by HLF;

 

v)      Avoniel - Note that a planning consultation in relation to the proposals for Avoniel will take place in Avoniel Leisure Centre on 20th March 2019 and that construction works at Avoniel will be taken forward under the Council existing leisure contract with Heron Bros;

 

vi)     Girdwood - note that officers have met with DfC officials and are looking at next steps in relation to consultation and engagement on the options for Phase 2 and that DFC are looking at funding options for Phase 2 and have committed to coming back to the Council on this; and

 

vii)   note the update on the Social Responsibility Plan which is being delivered (see 3.13).

 

3.0       Main Report

           

Programme level

 

3.1       Members will recall that they have agreed the design cost limits and the citywide USP strategy for the Council’s £105m leisure programme, which will ensure that the city has a unique offering in terms of its leisure provision and minimises any duplication of provision ensuring both balanced investment and value for money. A high level summary of the current status of all the projects is outlined below –

 

CENTRE	USP	BUDGET	STATUS
Olympia	Sports Village	£19m (£21.75m total - £2.75m DfC)	Centre opened January 2017. See further detail below Phase 2 (outdoor space) officially opened at the end of May 2018
Andersonstown	Family fun leisure water	£25m	Works well underway.
Robinson	Aquatic Centre	£20m	Works well underway.
Brook	Outdoor Centre of Excellence	£15m	Works well underway
Avoniel	Outdoor Centre of Excellence	£8m	Centre will close and works will begin once Robinson opens
Templemore	Spa and heritage	£12m (£17m total - £5m HLF)	Application submitted to HLF.  Decision on funding due on 11th December
Girdwood	TBC	£6m	Discussions continuing with DfC

 

3.2       Olympia– The new centre offers two swimming pools, a split level 120 station gym, a dedicated spin studio, a four court main hall, a studio available for leisure and community use and a spa. The new Olympia was officially opened on 24th January 2017 and has received very positive feedback. There are also some impressive performance indicators in relation to usage of the new facility as outlined in the table below.  This evidences the impact of the Leisure Programme and is a testament to the ambition of Members to transform the city’s leisure estate.  Members are asked to note that GLL have also highlighted that Olympia is one of the best success stories.

 

3.3      

 

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR	2015 – Old Olympia	2016 – Old Olympia	2017	2018 year end forecast	2019 forecast
Usage		145,593	233,738	332,000	379,000
Live membership	830	700	1863	2050	2400
Ave Membership			£21.50	£22.95	£24.00
Better Swim School	135	138	825	1228	1500
Income	£410,248	£426,954	£929,479	£1,267,506	£1,393,500
Staff / income ratio	153%	158%	78%	67%	65%
Full time staff	20	22	26.5	28	28.5
Internal Promotions		2	6	8	10
Staff annual costs	£628,570	£674,587	£724,993	£839,855	£916,763
Overtime annual	£56,787	£40,843	£8,070	£9,000	£6,000
Sickness	3.90%	7.90%	3.20%	0.14%	0.05%

 

·         Usage is increased to rise by over 160% by 2019 from the 2016 figures

·         The number of live members is predicted to increase by nearly 190% by 2019

·         The number of participants using the Swim School has already risen by 500% and is predicted to increase by 1000% by the end of 2019

·         Income is predicted to rise by nearly 250% by 2019

 

This data shows the financial, people and community benefits that the new centre has had on the local area. The key learnings form Olympia will be applied to the next group of LTP centres.

 

3.4       Phase 2 of the works included the construction of a new pitch and play park, re-provision of Midgley Park, a new tree lined boulevard leading from the Boucher Road and the development of two commercial sites at the front of the site. This was officially opened at the end of May. Committee has agreed the disposal of the two commercial sites at the front of the sites and Council officers are working closely with the preferred developer on progressing this. Further updates will be brought to Committee in due course.

 

3.5       Andersonstown, Brook and Robinson– Works are well underway on the three new builds and all are currently on schedule. Pictures of the current status of the builds have been circulated to Members. An aerial video of Brook is available on the Council website at - http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/leisure/transformingleisure/brookactivitycentreregeneration.aspx. Members are asked to note that updates on the progress of the builds are regularly provided on the Council website, Facebook and via social media and have received extremely positive feedback. A full communications plan is in place for the programme and both Members and the public will continue to be updated on the progress of the new builds.

 

3.6       Officers from Property and Projects and City and Neighbourhood Services teams are working closely with GLL to agree detail finish and fixture, fittings and equipment specifications for the three centres. GLLhave commenced planning for recruitment, training and marketing and communications for the new centres.  Further details on the mobilisation plans for the three new centres will be brought back to Committee in due course.

 

3.7       Robinson –Members are asked to note that a separate report in relation to the options for naming of the Robinson Centre is on the agenda for discussion at Committee today.

 

3.8       Templemore– The USP for Templemore is heritage and the redevelopment plans include retention of the existing swimming pool which will be refurbished, an additional 6 lane/25m pool, fitness suite, health suite, new changing facilities, meeting rooms, a café and heritage space within the existing Baths which will include museum style exhibits, interactive historical/educational elements and a flexible use interpretive space.  Members will be aware that this project was dependent on funding from HLF and are asked to note that the round 2 funding application was successful following consideration by HLF’s Board of Trustees in December. HLF will provide the Council with formal permission to start the delivery phase following the receipt of planning approval, which is expected by April 2019.

 

3.9       Avoniel– Members agreed in April 2016, that Avoniel would become a ‘dry’ centre with a focus on outdoor soccer facilities and that Templemore would become the ‘wet’ centre for inner east Belfast. Members will also be aware that a comprehensive consultation and engagement process was held in relation to the development proposals for Avoniel and Templemore between November 2017 and January 2018. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with 97% of respondents expressing support for Templemore and 85% expressing support for Avoniel. As part of the planning process for Avoniel a further consultation event will take place in Avoniel Leisure Centre on Wednesday 20th March from 3pm - 8pm. 

 

3.10     Members have already agreed that the delivery of the Robinson, Avoniel and Templemore Baths projects in East Belfast are phased to ensure continuity of swimming provision and that Avoniel and Templemore will not close until the new Robinson opens. Council officers are already starting to look at the business continuity plans for both Avoniel and Templemore so that these facilities will be ready to close once the new Robinson is opened. Members will be aware that Heron Bros Ltd. were appointed as thecontractor for the delivery of the new facilities at Andersonstown, Robinson and Brook in the largest capital contract that the Council has awarded. Under this contract the Council reserved the right to add in Avoniel and Members are asked to note that, in line with this, Heron’s will also be taking forward the construction works at Avoniel. This means that Heron’s will be ready to commence works at Avoniel once Robinson is opened. Due to the nature of the works at Templemore, given its heritage and listed building status and funding requirements, this contract will be tendered separately and it is envisaged that this will go to out to tender in May with the contractor to be appointed by the Summer 2019.

 

3.11     Members are also asked to note that some correspondence had been received by Elected Members and officers in relation to concerns relating to the closure of the Avoniel Centre and a misconception about the facilities that would be available in the new centre and in East. The East AWG at its meeting on 7^th February were updated on this and it was agreed that in order to better inform the public of the plans for each Leisure Centre, the floor plans and images of the new centres would be installed in each of the existing centres. 

 

3.12     Girdwood Phase 2 –Members will recall that it was agreed at Committee in November to move Girdwood Phase 2 to the next stage.  Subsequent to this officers have had further discussions with DfC as the land owner of the Girdwood site.  DFC have confirmed that any proposed building on the site must be within the parameters of the options set out within their EA and that any deviation to this would necessitate a new EA.  DFC and the Council are currently looking at the next steps including consultation and engagement on the options within the EA.  Further detail on this will be brought back to Committee. In addition Members are asked to note that DFC are looking at the funding for this project given the ongoing absence of an Executive and whether there are any other options available to progress this.  DFC are currently discussing this with their Finance Department and have committed to following up with the Council.

 

3.13     Social Responsibility – Economic and social benefit clauses

 

            In line with the Council’s ‘Social Clause Policy’ Heron Brothers, as the leisure contractor, have been required to deliver the leisure contract in such a way so as to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits for Belfast and its people through training and employment opportunities and, where practical, using local suppliers for goods and services. As part of this Heron’s have developed a Social Responsibility Plan which focuses on a number of key areas including employment, promotion of local businesses and community and social initiatives.  This work is being co-ordinated through the Council’s Economic Development Team in the Place and Economy Department.

 

3.14     Members are asked to note the following key outcomes which have been delivered to date under the Social Responsibility Plan –

 

Employment

 

            The creation of employment opportunities was a central component of the Social Responsibility Plan including employment opportunities for the long term unemployed, apprentices and tertiary level students. Employment outcomes are principally measured in employment weeks although additional indicators are also being monitored in terms of the number of jobs created, duration of employment etc. In regards to the employment opportunities targeted at the unemployed and economically inactive, the Employability & Skills Team have co-designed and delivered a Construction Employment Academy.

 

These Academies are targeted at supporting contractor to fulfil the employment and employments weeks, ensuring optimum outcomes in specific relation to those unemployed, economically inactive, apprentices/trainees and higher-level students. As of January 2019 Members are asked to note that the following employment opportunities have been delivered as part of the Council’s leisure contract and that the overall target number of weeks for employment, apprentices and paid placements has now been exceeded.

 

	Target	Weeks Delivered	Individuals Recruited
Employment for long-term unemployed or economically inactive	620	489 (up from 167 in June 2018)	12 (up from 9 in June 2018)
Apprentice	620	1196 (up from 463 in June 2018)	34 (up from 13 in June 2018)
Paid Placement/Work Experience	1100	746 (up from 339 in June 2018)	14 (up from 13 in June 2018)
TOTAL	2340	2431	60

           

In addition to the employment figures outlined above Members are asked to note the following activities that Heron Bros. Ltd have taken forward as part of their Social Responsibility:

 

Promotion of Local Suppliers and Businesses

•          A ‘Business-to-Business’ wall has been installed at each site for local businesses to promote their goods and services

 

Community Initiatives and Engagement

•          Fund raising activities including a Cystic Fibrosis ‘Trick or Treat’ breakfast and a McMillian Cancer Coffee Morning

•       Sponsorship of a range of community groups and festivals including Féile an Phobail; Clonduff July Festival; Colinglen Christmas tree and festival;

•       Benefit in kind materials (fencing) to support West Spend summer festival and benefit in kind materials (brick) to help community memorial wall in Clonduff

•       Eight site employees have undertaken volunteering at Reconnect NI to lay new patio and tidy up the garden facilities for the local West Belfast charity

 

Sports Development

 

·            Partnership with GLL on summer 2019 cross community activities

·            Sponsorship of Clonduff Under 14 Football Club

·            Sponsorship of ‘Run Belfast Hills’ with North Belfast Harriers and National Trust.

 

 

 

            Skills and Health Initiatives

 

•       Worked in partnership with Groundwork NI to plan and deliver the ‘Grow Bus’ to 4 cross community schools local to the sites to educate the children on the benefits of eating fruit and veg plus how to grow your own.

 

            Update on the West£pend Initiative

 

3.15     The West£pend project aims to assist businesses to prosper and thrive during redevelopment and major construction work in the Andersonstown Road area. The objective is to help businesses retain and attract new customers while construction is taking place.    Aiken PR were appointed to engage with businesses and utilise a budget of £20,000 to develop and deliver marketing and promotional activities, ongoing PR and social media campaigns and a targeted, value-for-money advertising campaign.  This support was approved through the City Growth and Regeneration Committee.  The project ends this month. 

 

3.16     Members are asked to note that there was a high take up of the scheme in the local area with over 80 businesses opting in for support.  Highlights of activities undertaken include

 

Ø  A Summer Street Fair in August - 22 businesses participated in offers. 500 people attended the event, there was widespread coverage before the event and a number of businesses highlighted that they had an increase in sales.  

 

Ø  Pumpkin Festival Saturday 27th October – range of Hallow’een activities including pumpkin craving workshops and window art.  Attended by over 250 people. 

 

Ø   Christmas Event and Christmas Light Switch on – 1st December

 

3.17     Financial and Resource Implications

 

Financial – The design costs limits for each centre were agreed by Committee in April 2015 as part of the overall £105m leisure programme.  

 

3.18     Equality or Good Relations Implications/

Rural needs Assessment

 

There are no direct equality implications.”

After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations and noted that site visits would be organised to enable Members to view the various leisure projects under construction currently.