Issue - meetings
Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund Phase 2
Meeting: 06/03/2024 - Executive (Item 169)
169 Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund Phase 2 
PDF 181 KB
Purpose:
To seek approval for the Council to enter into an agreement with Sport England for the acceptance of a grant from the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) Phase 2; and for the Council to draw down funding awarded to Chipping Norton Lido, acting in its capacity as lead authority for the delivery of the SPSF.
Recommendations:
That the Executive Resolves to:
- Approve the acceptance of the SPSF Phase 2 grant awarded to West Oxfordshire District Council, valued at £243,328, to install rooftop solar PV (Photo Voltaic) and energy saving showers at the Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney;
- Delegate authority to the Director of Finance to draw down and deploy the SPSF Phase 2 grant awarded to Chipping Norton Lido Ltd, valued at £84,366, to install solar PV and an air source heat pump.
Minutes:
Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects, introduced the report, which sought approval for the Council to enter into an agreement with Sport England for the acceptance of a grant from the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) Phase 2. The report also sought approval for the Council to draw down funding awarded to Chipping Norton Lido, acting in its capacity as lead authority for the delivery of the SPSF.
Councillor Tim Sumner proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendations as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Andrew Prosser, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
- Approve the acceptance of the SPSF Phase 2 grant awarded to West Oxfordshire District Council, valued at £243,328, to install rooftop solar PV (Photo Voltaic) and energy saving showers at the Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney;
- Delegate authority to the Director of Finance to draw down and deploy the SPSF Phase 2 grant awarded to Chipping Norton Lido Ltd, valued at £84,366, to install solar PV and an air source heat pump.
Meeting: 29/02/2024 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 53)
53 Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund Phase 2 PDF 181 KB
Report to Follow
Invited:
Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects
Andy Barge, Assistant Director - Communities
Additional documents:
- EXEMPT ANNEX A - Capital Grant Agreement , View reasons restricted (53/2)
Minutes:
Members were made aware that there was an exempt report and if it was discussed there would be a requirement to go into exempt session.
The Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects introduced the report that sought approval for the Council to enter into an agreement with Sport England for the acceptance of a grant from the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) Phase 2; and for the Council to draw down funding awarded to Chipping Norton Lido, acting in its capacity as lead authority for the delivery of the SPSF.
It was explained that the SPSF had been allocated to local authorities in England by the government as a support package for public leisure facilities with swimming pools and was split into two phases. Following the announcement of the second phase of the grant scheme in September 2023, a series of interventions were considered for each of the sites in the District. Funding bids totalling almost £754,000 were developed and for Carterton Leisure Centre, Chipping Norton Leisure Centre, Chipping Norton Lido (bid submitted by Lido management team), Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney, and Woodstock Outdoor Pool. Only 2 bids were accepted due to an overwhelming demand; funding for both Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney and Chipping Norton Lido were accepted.
Various questions and points of clarification were raised with Officers providing answers and points of clarification as follows:
- Bids were put in for a number of buildings. Funding would come directly from Sports England and this was not money the Council allocated; the Council only facilitated the grants and it could not be used for any other purposes.
- Clarification on the solar panels on Windrush Leisure Centre and any payments or additional costs around those would need clarification from the leisure operator, GLL.
- Criteria for the funding was weighted on community facilities and the menu of interventions. There was no further explanation as to why the other bids were not accepted.
- Complementary heating activity for swimming pools was being examined to reduce energy demands.
- Funding could be partially lost if there were to be a new leisure centre built but these issues would be addressed if that scenario occurred and it was unlikely Sports England would claw back any money paid from the grant if the Council was extending leisure provision within the District.
RESOLVED that the Committee NOTED the report.