Briefing

Leisure Estate – , July 2014

Heather McManus - Assistant Executive Director – Corporate Property

Neil Consterdine – Head of Youth and Leisure

1 Background

1.1 The independent review of leisure services in undertaken during Winter 2010/11 considered the current provision across all sectors and provided a clear evidence base and supply and demand analysis which supported the Council’s need to reconfigure the leisure estate in Oldham in order to both reduce the revenue burden on the Council and improve the leisure offer to the public.

1.2 The review supported the view that an overall leisure estate of fewer, high quality public sector facilities well distributed across the Borough, with a Town Centre facility at its heart, alongside private and voluntary sector provision, would be a realistic way forward for the Borough.

1.3 The review established the need to:

• clearly define the Oldham leisure estate to be included in procurement / management arrangements; • maximise use and availability to the community of sports facilities in BSF / Academy and PFI schools, including during the day; • exclude loss making facilities from the contract / offer by closure or transfer; • reduce the size of the estate; • increase cost efficiency, increasing income and bearing down on central and staff costs within the operating model; • remodel / reconfigure loss making facilities in , Royton and Crompton and the Town Centre; • use revenue savings and capital receipts generated from closures and other potential transfers to fund the provision of two new high quality replacement facilities, in the Royton / Crompton area and the Town Centre; • procure any new facilities separately from the management / operation of the leisure estate.

1.4 A consultation exercise was run between September and November 2011. The following table summarises the consultation option that was presented to stakeholders / residents:

LEISURE ESTATE PROPOSALS Facility Proposed action EXISTING FACILITIES Pool and Fitness Centre Retain Oldham Sports Centre Refurbish or replace with more efficient facility Glodwick Leisure Pool Close and transfer users to Oldham Sports Centre. Grange Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) Close or consider transfer to Oldham College Royton Sports Centre Close and replace with new centre to serve Royton, Crompton and Shaw Crompton Pool and Fitness Centre Close and replace with new centre to serve Royton, Crompton and Shaw Royton and Crompton AGP ( at Royton Retain and Crompton School) Health and Wellbeing Centre Retain Radclyffe Athletics Centre Retain or consider transfer to Radclyffe school Sports Centre Retain. Consider transfer of sand-based AGP and tennis courts potentially transferred to Failsworth school Chapel Road AGP Transfer via open process of expressions of interest/submissions ADDITIONAL FACILITY New pool and sports centre to serve New facility, managed by operator, location Royton, Crompton and Shaw to be determined - Royton and Crompton School, Royton or Shaw Town Centres

1.5 On January 3 rd 2012 Cabinet received a report of the consultation exercise and specifically for Royton, Crompton and Shaw resolved that:-

1. The findings of the consultation exercise and Cabinet’s response to these findings be noted; 2. A single, new build leisure facility be re-provided within the leisure contract for the Royton, Shaw and Crompton District Partnership area;

1.6 On January 30 th 2012 Cabinet received a report on the selection of sites for replacement facilities and finalisation of Outline Business Case and resolved for Royton Sports Centre and Crompton Pool and Fitness Centre to:

• Note the clear outcome of the appraisal of sites in Royton and Shaw for the replacement leisure facility and support the location of the facility in Royton town centre • Request officers to continue to refine options and costs leading to the recommendation of a preferred site in Royton town centre for inclusion in the Outline Business Case (OBC) • Indicate that it is willing to enter into discussions with Shaw and Crompton Council to transfer the Crompton Pool and Fitness centre to them to run

1.7 In March 2012, Cabinet approved a report entitled Leisure Estate - Approval of Outline Business Case. Within this report, the condition of the pools was considered to be so poor that the decision was made to invest in two new leisure centres for the borough and to close four older leisure facilities, including Crompton Pool. At that time the council stated its ambition to retain the current pools in Crompton and Royton until the new pool at Royton opened.

2.0 Current Position

Crompton Pool

2.1 In 2013/14 the council spent £44k making repairs to the pool area due to ongoing maintenance, the failure of the pool surround, and the need to remove asbestos to allow the repairs to happen. This included the revenue cost to the Council for the closure during the fix.

2.2 Further essential repairs are now required to keep the pool fully operational in the short term. This is due to the failure of the Hot Well Water Tank (boiler). No assurances could be given, even if these works are completed, that no further repair works will be required. This could include possible unforeseen factors which could affect the re-commissioning of the plant. As an example tiles falling off the walls of the pool and the chlorination equipment failing. In addition, as an example, a recent visual inspection shows visible cracks have opened up in the pool tank and since the closure significant water loss has happened. The pool tank is not holding water. The condition of the pool and building was poor in 2012, and since that date, the asset has deteriorated further. The revised survey of 2013 found estimated works of c£1.2m plus VAT to bring the pool to a usable standard long term. A number of options, which are outlined below, have been considered.

2.3 In November 2012 negotiations began with the Friends of Shaw Baths. Information has been provided to the group to allow them to make a judgement on the viability of taking the asset. This has included the Council funding an up to date survey on the condition of the pool, and providing detailed financial information. The Friends of Shaw Baths were due to present a business plan to the council in October 2013. A further meeting with Friends of Shaw Baths (FOSB) was held on the 6 th June with the relevant portfolio holders and at this point were still not in a position to present a business plan for an asset transfer. As of the 6 th June a deadline of a further 6 weeks was agreed with FOSB if they were to present a business case for an asset transfer.

2.4 Within the past few months, Oldham Community Leisure has expressed an interest in using the adjoining Lifelong Learning Centre in Shaw for dry side leisure uses. OCL have over 400 members who would wish to see a continued dry leisure facility in Shaw.

2.5 The current lifelong learning building may have capacity to accommodate a dry side leisure offer. A detailed plan will be developed to explore this over the next 3 months. This may require further adaptations to the building.

2.6 Since the temporary closure, 12 of the 13 school swimming lessons and all the community swimming lessons have now been relocated to other facilities.

3 Options/Alternatives

3.1 Option 1 – Commission the manufacture, supply and design of a new fabricated tank and the associated pipework for installation. The tank would need to be fabricated off site. If the sizes required are too big to get in the building through a door, which is likely, the tank could come in six sections for the same budget but will have to be welded up on site by a subcontractor. A subcontractor will also have to supply and fit the tank.

3.2 Option 2 - Temporary boiler hire for a minimum of 18 months.

3.3 Option 3 - Transporting, adapting pipework and services to accommodate 2 x temporary oil fired boiler houses (Council owned), including installation of all electrics, commissioning and decommissioning after closure. This option would carry risk and mean they would become unavailable for short term solutions on other buildings.

3.4 Option 4 - Not to replace the Boiler, permanently close the building.

3.5 Option 4A - Not to replace the Boiler, permanently close the building, and look to explore the development of a detailed offer for provision of dry leisure facilities in Shaw.

3.6 The first three options carry possible unforeseen factors which could affect the re- commissioning of the plant. This could be tiles falling off the walls, the chlorination equipment failing or planning permission not being granted to position the temporary boiler houses outside the building. On both the temporary solutions (2 and 3) it needs to be recognized the boilers would need to be decommissioned at the due closure date. The end result, on top of other more substantial repairs, is the pool would not have a boiler system which would need to be recognized if any asset transfer was agreed.

3.7 With regards to option 4, whilst this provides the most financially viable option, this would not be in line with previous ambition to retain the Building; Option 4A would provide a possible long term commitment to providing Dry-side leisure facilities in Shaw. This would not completely address previous ambitions to retain the full facilities until the new pool in Royton was built, but as the asset has deteriorated since this original proposal, and the financial situation of the council has changed considerably this option may be considered being both a better value for money option as well as an option which addresses some of the future needs of the community. OCL have advised that they have over 400 members within the Gym, which they wish to retain.

3.8 A decision to opt for a 4A was taken. Whilst the Council recognises that previous ambitions to retain the building have been made until the new pool is open, in view of the condition and ongoing maintenance, the financial implications, value for money and also the new proposal from OCL a decision has been made to permanently close the pool early and investigate the potential to develop a detailed offer for provision of dry leisure facilities in Shaw.

4 Leisure Facilities in Royton, Shaw and Crompton

4.1 The table below sets out the wider Leisure facilities on offer across the district.

Royton • The new Royton Leisure Centre is planned to be open in October Shaw & 2015. The centre will provide: Crompton - 25 metre x 6 lane swimming pool - 150m2 learner pool - 80 station fitness court - 2 x group exercise studios - Vending facilities • There are three secondary school sites providing Leisure facilities in the area- Royton and Crompton School, Crompton House and Academy North. Each of the school sites provide a number of sports facilities. Each has a sports hall for community use. Royton and Crompton and Academy North have full size 3G pitches and further one is planned at Crompton House. A number of other indoor and outdoor community sports facilities are available at the school sites. • DW fitness, a private fitness club, also provides a swimming pool which is located on the western edge of the area. • A number of private gyms operate in the area including elite fitness in Shaw (formerly Tara Leisure). • Voluntary Sports Clubs – for example Heyside Cricket Club, Royton Cricket Club and Shaw Cricket Club. • Across the district a number of other leisure, sports and recreational spaces exist. These include grass pitches for football and rugby, cricket strips, Parks and Open spaces which host tennis courts and bowling greens, Skate Parks and Multi Use Games Areas. These are available for formal and informal activity. • Oldham Community Leisure is also working in partnership with Oldham Athletic to develop a new Gym offer