UNCLASSIFIED Martin Yardley Executive Director, Place Business Support Floor 12, Civic Centre 4 Much Park Street Coventry CV1 2PY
www.coventry.gov.uk
Our reference FOI 20122767 Please contact Bernie Robinson Direct line 024 7683 1201 5 June 2014 [email protected]
Dear
Thank you for requesting information about the Aquatic Survey, which the Council received on 7 May 2014. Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“The Act”). Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to your request.
You have requested the following information, the response to your questions are in italics;
1. The Aquatic Survey was undertaken by Knight Kavanagh and Page.
What:- i. Were they paid for providing the Sports Survey?
Knight Kavanagh and Page were paid by the City Council for the completion of the two audit documents (the Playing Pitch Strategy Assessment Report and the Indoor Facilities Assessment Report) and four strategy documents (the Sports Strategy, Aquatics Strategy, Indoor Facilities Strategy and Playing Pitch Strategy).
ii. Is their track record of successful aquatic recommendations?
Yes, Knight Kavanagh and Page have a track record of the production of aquatic strategies and have worked with a number of other Local Authorities including:
• Leeds • Sunderland • Sandwell • Bangor, NI
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• Edinburgh • Wolverhampton • Chester
And additionally:
• Swim Ireland Education Strategy • Strategy for Swim Northwest
iii Who accompanied them on their visits to swimming pools?
This was dependant on who was responsible for the operational management of the site (leisure trust, educational institution, private sector operator etc.). The Knight Kavanagh and Page technical officer who carried out the site audits was accompanied on these site audits by the School Business Managers or Facility Managers responsible for these sites.
2. The Aquatic Survey details nine schools within the City of Coventry which have swimming pools. Please provide:-
i. A breakdown of these schools to show which schools are local authority run; have academy status or are private. ii. Details of which of the nine schools provide public swimming and whether it is presently available to the public. iii. The hours available for public swimming at each school.
Please see Appendix One – ‘Coventry Swimming Pools’. The data was correct at point of audit, however, it should be noted that all pool programming is subject to change.
3. The Aquatics Survey refers to partnerships but does not mention any potential partners. Please provide details of discussions with any potential partners such as Coventry University. If no such negotiations have taken place then please indicate why not.
Discussions concerning the Aquatics Strategy have taken place with a range of potential partners, including both the City’s universities and both the City’s public leisure operators. However, the nature of these individual discussions is commercially confidential.
4. The Aquatics Survey makes no reference to the City Centre locality with extremely good transport links for all Coventry residents and the wider community. Has this facility been taken into consideration? If not then why not?
The location and transport links to Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre are considered and taken into account on Page 35 of the Indoor Facilities Assessment Report. Indeed, the Strategy proposes the re-provision of a city
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centre leisure offer in-part due to a recognition of the excellent transport links into the city centre, for users and visitors travelling both from within the City and from outside of the City.
5. The Aquatics Survey makes no reference to the much publicised Olympic Legacy, Why, therefore is Coventry proposing to close its 50 metre Olympic swimming pool?
Coventry’s existing 50m pool is not an Olympic pool and it does not meet current competition requirements for national or international competitions. Even if Coventry did invest in a new 50m x 10 lane pool with the required warm-up and spectator facilities, the City has been advised that within the national hierarchy of facilities, this facility would still sit some distance behind national venues that have a wider events competition infrastructure (e.g. London, Glasgow, Cardiff etc.).
If Coventry were to refurbish its current 50m pool or even build a replacement 50m x 8 lane pool, under Amateur Swimming Association guidance for Championships and Events, the city would automatically lose regional level competitions (or above) should anywhere else in the region build a 50m x 10 lane competition pool within its lifetime.
The real Olympic legacy for Coventry within the Strategy is focused not on one facility or sport, but on increasing participation, supporting clubs, nurturing talent and increasing volunteering across a wide base of sports. This approach is further focused around a model of investment in facilities that must be sustainable not only for the ten-year life of the Strategy, but for the operational lifetime of the facilities that will be created as a consequence of the Strategy.
6. Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre is referred to as listed.
i. Which fabric of the building is listed?
The following are the details of the Statutory Listing:
The original part of the Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre (CSLC), including the sunbathing terraces, were statutorily listed (Grade II) on 2nd December 1997. The following are some key aspects of the listing description:
• Designed 1956, built 1962–66 by Coventry City Architect’s Department under Arthur Ling and Terrance Gregory. • An ‘enfilade’ of three pools set within a single hall, the largest pool ‘T’ shaped to include a diving area. This project on the south elevation, which is particularly impressive, with full glazing round five sides. • The interior is particularly impressive. Main pool hall with seating for 1,174 spectators has 165’ pool with diving area in projecting ‘T’. Small teaching pool set
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in low ceilinged space under projecting café and viewing area, with small pool beyond. These retain original brick and tile finishes. • The elaborate facilities of the main pool were designed to meet international competition standards, and the pool became the regional competitive centre for the Midlands. • Coventry and Hampstead were the only complexes of the period to be constructed with three pools. • The use of a steel frame and longitudinal plan are also unusual features. • Coventry is important as amongst the most ambitious baths built anywhere in Britain in the short period 1960–66, when large swimming complexes were encouraged. • The later sports hall to the east and bridge link is not of special interest.
ii. Has any discussions taken place with English Heritage concerning the future of the building. If there have been any discussions then please provide full details.
No, there have yet to be any discussions with English Heritage regarding the future of the building.
7. It has been widely publicised that the Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre is losing some £2,000 per day. Please provide a breakdown of this figure to indicate the major expenditure items per building (Elephant; Olympic Pool and Splash Pool) together with Customer income.
This information is based on the operator’s accounts and the detail of this is therefore commercially sensitive.
8. David Nuttall's, the Service Manager Sports and Arts at Coventry City Council, response to Rob Bristow in a letter dated 4th April 2014 refers to various modelling techniques to decide the future of aquatics in Coventry. There are systemic drawbacks with this technique.
i. The analysis relies upon numerous assumptions which may not be applicable for the refurbishment of existing buildings. For example when the Splash Pool was constructed some twenty years ago it was given a five year shelf life.
ii. When calculating anticipated customer flows the modelling uses average participation data for individual sports. Sports Centre usage will vary from locality to locality depending upon such factors as transport links; ethnicity of customers; breakdown of population by age and sex; opening hours of the facility
iii. There is unlikely to be any allowance for the implementation of facilities which have a direct impact upon the funding differential as detailed below.
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Noted – it is accepted that there are limitations and parameters with all modelling work. Building modelling should only be relied upon when making decisions in those cases where there is no viable alternative - for example in an area with no existing leisure activities or when adding sports to an existing leisure facility.
9. Please provide details of
i. The assumptions made when modelling
The financial assumptions utilised within the modelling are based on an operator’s detailed accounts, benchmarked against wider operators’ models, and are therefore commercially sensitive.
ii. The deviation from the median when calculating the viability of a new sports centre/addition of new sports to an existing centre.
The financial assumptions utilised within the modelling are based on an operator’s detailed accounts benchmarked against wider operators’ models, and are therefore commercially sensitive. An approach utilising a median based on the performance of national facilities was not utilised.
iii. How was it concluded Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre has poor customer flows:
It was concluded that Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre has poor customer flows from the Knight Kavanagh and Page technical visit to the site and conversations with Trust employees. The comment on page 32 of the Indoor Facilities Assessment Report was based upon the location of dryside facilities (sports hall, bowls rink, squash courts) from the main reception area, the usage of the Fitness and Health Suites by customers wishing to use aquatic facilities and the high level of general circulation routes.
10. Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre currently provide a great deal of sporting activities which have widely varying participation levels. Anecdotal evidence indicates there is a greater demand for some facilities than can be provided by the Centre - for example the Splash Pool on evenings, weekends and school holidays. It is particularly disturbing that the Splash Pool is closed because of expected private bookings which frequently do not materialise causing large numbers of customers being denied access.
Noted.
11. Please provide full details of the numbers
i. Engaged in each sporting activity to include usage of the Olympic pool and the splash pool as separate entities.
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This information is attached as ‘Appendix Two – FOI Usage 201213’.
ii. Of potential customers who are denied access because the facility is fully booked or closed.
It has been established that the Council does not collect this information. Thus, we are unable to provide any information relating to the above, and are informing you as required by Section 1(1) (a) of the Act.
To advise and assist you regarding the types of information the Council does hold and regularly discloses, you may wish to view the latest Freedom of Information responses issued by the Council on our disclosure log or look at the Council's Publication Scheme and it's published reusable Open Data.
For a wider range of information about the Coventry area and to see what other organizations are doing, have a look at Facts about Coventry
12. The Aquatics Survey refers to Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre as being "not fit for purpose". Does the modelling for refurbishment include:
i. Retail facilities such as a national Local Food Chain; a national Restaurant Chain or Sports Shop?
Yes, the modelling does include retail facilities
ii. Corporate sponsorship such as Coventry Building Society, Severn Trent plc.
The modelling does not assume corporate sponsorship.
13. The modelling techniques used are unlikely to provide an accurate representation of the actual state of disrepair/structure of the building. It appears no structural survey has been undertaken to show the current condition of the structure? If not then please provide an explanation why not.
A structural survey has been undertaken.
14. Modelling techniques are unlikely to provide a good indicator of the condition of the building. Therefore, has a condition survey been undertaken for such elements as damp, asbestos, wall cracks, heating systems etc? If not then please provide an explanation why not.
A condition survey has been undertaken.
15. Refurbishment items requiring potential improvement could be looked at on an individual cost benefit analysis. Items of note include
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i. Assuming the roof is listed then any cost of repairs would have to be met by the Council even if the building is sold. Since the roof covering cannot be seen from ground level it could be with more modem materials and insulation without detriment to any listing.
Noted. An element of repairs for the listed building is included in the modelling. If the building were to be sold, then the responsibility for the building would transfer to the new owner and the local authority would assume responsibility for enforcement should this be required in the future.
ii. The glazed roof lights are not necessary with the area of windows in place. Light sensitive lighting could be installed as well as solar panels on the roof. It is noted the lights are frequently "left on" even when unnecessary.
Noted.
iii. The windows could be re-glazed in modern insulating glass to reduce heat loss. No doubt a grant would be available for this purpose.
Noted.
iv. A suspended ceiling could be incorporated at the bottom of the roof beams to reduce the building volume that is required to be heated
Suggestion noted. As this forms part of the listed aspect of the building, advice on this would have to be sought.
v. To retain the diving boards an "upstand” to the ceiling could be used.
Noted. Again, as this forms part of the listed aspect of the building, advice on this would have to be sought.
vi. A dry inspection of the pool tank would be necessary. On a visual (wet) inspection; the tiling would appear to be in good order, except for some impact damage to the scum channel and edge tiling.
Noted.
16. Has any consideration been given to selling a part of Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre in order to finance a refurbishment of the remaining site?
No, c onsideration h as not be en gi ven t o s elling of par ts o f t he f acility t o f inance a refurbishment of the remainder of the site.
17. Has any discussions taken place with any potential purchasers of the Coventry Sports and Leisure site? If yes then please provide full details of these discussions?
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No, discussions have not taken place with any potential purchasers of Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre.
18. Could culvert covering the River Sherbourne on north side of the Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre be opened up to provide an attractive visual feature to the pool complex in line with the Council's recent proposal to open up the river the city centre.
The feasibility and cost implications/benefits of the suggestion above would need further exploration. This possibility has not been explored to date.
19. The proposed island site in New Union Street would appear from viewing on 'Google Earth" to:-
i. Be too small to include a water park and 50 metre pool. Please confirm whether this analysis is correct and if not then are there any activities which would have to be forfeited to accommodate a 50 metre pool.
Correct, the proposed site is not large enough for a 50 metre pool and a destination water park.
ii. Impinge on the Christchurch Spire and Methodist Central Hall Is this assessment correct?
Massing work indicates that the proposed building would not need to impinge on the Christchurch Spire or Methodist Central Hall.
20. It has been widely publicised a new self-funding Sports Centre will be built at Spire House-Christchurch House- New Union Street with an estimated footfall of 1,300,000. Please provide details of
i. How is the footfall of 1,300,000 derived
The as sumptions ut ilised within the m odelling ar e b ased on an o perator’s projections b enchmarked against wider op erators’ models, and ar e therefore commercially sensitive.
ii. The sporting activities available at the new site together with the ticket prices of those activities
The activities modelled include: 25 Metre Pool Destination Water Park 85 Station Fitness Suite Dance Studio Climbing Wall
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2 x Squash Courts Health Suite Health Spa Creche/Soft Play Area
Fees and Charges for these activities are yet to be finalised but financial modelling has been based on an operator’s projections benchmarked against wider operators’ models for similar facilities. The details of these projections are commercially sensitive.
iii. The estimated numbers using each activity.
The as sumptions ut ilised w ithin t he m odelling ar e bas ed o n an op erator’s projections benchmarked a gainst wider op erators’ models, and ar e t herefore commercially sensitive.
iv. Parking facilities available on site
There are several car parks within a short distance of the proposed new leisure designation facility. Further feasibility works will be undertaken to determine the best location(s) to ensure the new facility has the best possible public access.
v. The cost of running each sporting activity to include overheads and labour outgoings
The as sumptions ut ilised within the m odelling ar e b ased on an o perator’s projections b enchmarked against wider op erators’ models, and ar e therefore commercially sensitive.
vi. Whether any consideration has been given to including retail outlets within the build. If not then why not?
Retail facilities have been included within the financial modelling.
vii. Whether consideration has been given to Corporate Sponsorship, If not then why not?
The modelling does not assume corporate sponsorship.
In connection with questions 3, 7, 9(i), (ii) and 20 (i), (ii), (iii), (v) and (vii), following careful consideration, the Council regrets to inform you that it has decided not to disclose this information.
The exemption engaged is Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("The Act"). To explain further, the Council is of the view that the disclosure of the requested information would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of both the Council and individuals and organisations who have taken part in the report-preparation and
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consultation process and that Section 43 (2) of the Act is engaged, where disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person.
In applying this exemption the Council has balanced the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosure. In this particular case the Council considers that the public interest in withholding this information for the reasons stated above outweighs the benefits of demonstrating openness and transparency of process at this stage.
The Council always seeks value for money and makes every effort to promote fair competition and consultation. The Council considers that by disclosing the information to the world-at-large, organizations that are not able to demonstrate at least the same level of innovation and initiative may benefit by claiming to undertake particular activities that they are either not able to fulfill or even have no intention to fulfill on contract implementation.
Discussions concerning the Aquatics Strategy have taken place with a range of potential partners, including both the City’s universities and both the City’s public leisure operators. Council officers have engaged in dialogue with representatives of Coventry University over their future facility priorities and plans (specifically including plans for the new science and health building at Much Park Street). Council officers have also met with University of Warwick representatives and their appointed consultants concerning feasibility work to determine the University’s plans for improvements to their campus. Council officers have further met with representatives of President Kennedy School to discuss their sports facility provision (including their swimming pool) and the City Council is currently working in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Award Trust to build aquatic facilities at Centre AT7 (due to open in August 2014). Council officers have further met with both public leisure operators (Coventry Sports Trust and Coventry Sports Foundation) with a view to enhancing and further developing coordinated facility programming across all public leisure pools in the City.
Please note, under the Re-Use of Public Sector Information 2005 Regulations you are free to use this information for your own use or for the purposes of news reporting.
However, any other type of re-use under the Regulations, for example; publication of the information or circulation to the public, will require permission of the copyright owner and may be subject to terms and conditions. For documents where the copyright does not belong to Coventry City Council you will need to apply separately to the copyright holder.
If you wish to apply to reuse the information you have requested or have any other issues relating to this request please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are unhappy with the outcome or handling of your request you should write to us within 40 working days of the date of this letter:
Information Governance Council House, Room 21a
10 5 June 2014
Lower Ground Floor Earl Street, Coventry. CV1 5RR [email protected]
If having done that you are still dissatisfied, the Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely
Bernie Robinson Business Support Officer
Enclosure: Appendix One – ‘Coventry Swimming Pools’ Appendix Two – ‘FOI Usage 201213’
11 DIMENSIONS YEARS CATEGORY HOURS SITE NAME FACsubtype Length Width Area Lanes Maxdepth YR BUILT YR REFB OWN'SHIP MAN'MENSTATUS HRSINPP HRSAVAIL
BABLAKE SCHOOL Main/General 20 10 200 5 1.7 1960 2005 B3 B Operational 31 34.5 CALUDON CASTLE SCHOOL Main/General 25 10.5 262.5 6 1.9 2007 B1 C Operational 36.5 36.5 CARDINAL WISEMAN SCHOOL & LANGUAGE COLLEGE Main/General 17 5 85 3 2 1976 B1 B Operational COVENTRY SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE Main/General 50 17 850 8 2 1966 A E Operational 45 93 COVENTRY SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE Leisure Pool 15 10 150 0 1.5 1966 2004 A E Operational 45 93 COVENTRY SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE Learner/Teaching/Training 10 5 50 0 0.8 1966 2004 A E Operational 35.5 61 COVENTRY SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE Diving 11 5 55 0 5 1966 A E Operational 3.5 4 ERNESFORD GRANGE SPORTS CENTRE Main/General 18.25 9 164.25 4 2 1972 B1 A Operational 39 41.5 FOLESHILL SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE Main/General 27.6 10.6 292.56 5 3 1937 2008 A E Operational 47.5 88.5 FOLESHILL SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE Learner/Teaching/Training 26.2 10.4 272.48 0 1.4 1937 2008 A E Operational 47.5 88.5 FOXFORD LEISURE CENTRE Main/General 18.25 7.6 138.7 3 2 1997 2003 B1 E Operational 30 30 JAGUAR LEISURE CENTRE Learner/Teaching/Training 12 6 72 3 2.3 1984 2001 C C Operational 43 61 KING HENRY VIII PREPARATORY SCHOOL Learner/Teaching/Training 10 5 50 0 1.5 1985 B3 B Operational KING HENRY VIII SCHOOL Main/General 12.5 312.5 6 1.8 2009 B3 B Operational 34.5 38 LIVINGWELL HEALTH CLUB (COVENTRY) Learner/Teaching/Training 14 6 84 0 1.3 1992 C C Operational 51 104.5 LYNG HALL SCHOOL SPORTS CENTRE Main/General 18.4 7.8 143.52 4 2.04 1985 2006 B1 B Operational 37 38.5 POTTERS GREEN PRIMARY SCHOOL Lido 11 6 66 0 1 1960 B1 B Temporarily Closed PRESIDENT KENNEDY SCHOOL & COLLEGE Main/General 18 9 162 0 2 1965 B1 B Operational 20 20 SHERBOURNE FIELDS SCHOOL Main/General 16 5 80 0 1.5 1968 2004 B1 B Operational 37.5 65 SPINDLES HEALTH & LEISURE (COVENTRY) Main/General 18 9 162 1 1.4 1999 2005 C C Operational 52 101 SPIRIT HEALTH CLUB (COVENTRY) Main/General 15 7 105 0 1.5 1988 C C Operational 52 107.5 THE WARWICKSHIRE HEALTH & RACQUETS CLUB Main/General 25 10 250 0 1.5 1996 C C Operational 52 103.5 THE WARWICKSHIRE HEALTH & RACQUETS CLUB Learner/Teaching/Training 5 5 25 0 0.5 1996 C C Operational 52 103.5 TILE HILL WOOD SCHOOL AND LANGUAGE COLLEGE Main/General 17 9 153 0 2.01 1956 B1 E Operational 37 46.5 UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK SPORTS CENTRE Main/General 25 12 300 6 3 1970 B4 B Operational 14.5 28.5 VILLAGE LEISURE CLUB (COVENTRY) Main/General 25 7 175 3 1.2 2000 C C Operational 52 104.5 WINDMILL VILLAGE HOTEL AND GOLF CLUB Main/General 20 8 160 0 1.8 1990 2007 C C Operational 51 102 XCEL LEISURE CENTRE Main/General 25 13 316 6 1.8 2008 E E Operational 30.25 58.25
Owner Management Key
Management Type CATEGORY CODE Local Authority (in house) A School/College/University (in house) B Commercial Management C Sport Club D Community Organisation E Trust E CSSC F Industry Sports Club G Health Authority H MOD J Other K Not Known L Private Contractor (PPP/PFI) p
Owernership Type CATEGORY CODE Local Authority A Community school B1 Voluntary Aided School B1 Voluntary Controlled School B1 Foundation School B1 City Technology College B2 Community Special School B1 Non-Maintained Special School B2 Independent School approved for SEN Pupils B3 Other Independent Special School B3 Other Independent School B3 Foundation Special School B1 Pupil Referral Unit B2 LEA Nursery School B1 Playing for Success B2 Academies B2 EY Setting B2 Further Education B4 Higher Education Institutions B4 LEANurserySchool1 B1 Miscellaneous Education B Secure Units B2 Sixth Form Centres B2 Commercial C Sports Club D Community Organisation E Government F Industry (for employees) G Health Authority H MOD J Other K Not known L SWIM ACTIVITY OLYMPIC POOL SPLASH POOL TEACHING POOL DIVING PIT 50m configeration 30604 28m configeration 35366 Inspire swim school 20160 6130 20900 2400 School swimming 17745 8229 City of Coventry swim club 62712 Water Polo 1524 Other club block hire (Sub aqua & Cov Uni) 5000 Casual splash 92876 Splash Parties 3000 Over 60's club 425 Aquatic GEL Classes 2154 469 Special events 15180 180 TOTALS 190445 102900 29309 2400