Issue - meetings

  Report FSD23009

The report presented the capital programme monitoring position for Quarter 3 of the 2022/23 financial year and the revised capital programme for the four-year period 2022/23 to 2026/27 which had been approved by the Council’s Executive at its meeting on 18 January 2023.

The Head of Regeneration provided an update on the work being undertaken towards the redevelopment of the Walnuts and West Wickham Leisure Centres which would include extensive public consultation of which details would be announced in February 2023.  It had become clear that the planned redevelopments would require some form of closure of the leisure centres, but it was hoped to limit this to a maximum of 12-months and to stagger the planned redevelopments so that the Walnuts and West Wickham Leisure Centres were not closed at the same time.  It was definite that temporary leisure facilities could not be provided during any closure period due to the significant costs involved. 

With regard to the proposed redevelopment of Chislehurst Library, a Member underlined the need to consider accessibility and public toilet provision as part of any planned scheme.  The Head of Regeneration advised that the Capital Programme reflected the previous Property-led scheme and that this had now been superseded by the Operational Property Review.  Library maintenance and works projects would be developed in response to the findings of the Operational Property Review and this would include consultation where appropriate. In response to a question from another Member, the Director of Housing, Planning, Property and Regeneration advised that contingency spend was not necessary for Local Authority-owned buildings identified for disposal.

RESOLVED: That the Portfolio Holder be recommended to note and acknowledge the changes put to the Council’s Executive on 18 January 2023.