Agenda and minutes

R Thakor.

None.

Councillor J Gore stated that she was a member of a gym club outside of the Borough. Mrs Court, as Monitoring Officer, confirmed that this was not a pecuniary interest.

The Chairman clarified that the Council’s Constitution allowed non-committee members to contribute to the debate but not to vote on the item.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Services in report pages 1 - 13 which should be considered in conjunction with these minutes as a composite document.

The Committee heard that regular updates of the project team would be brought to committee and that problems or achievements would be reported to all Members.

The external Leisure Consultant summarised the report noting that both bids represented good value to the Council but that Bidder Y had scored highest in a robust tendering process.

He went on to say that facilities in Oadby and Wigston would be significantly enhanced as a result of the proposal and it was clarified that the specification set out in the tender would ensure that quality of the proposals and timescales for completion are delivered.

He further added that in his experience, projects of this nature were completed ahead of schedule to allow the successful bidder to see a commercial return on their investment.

Members endorsed the recommendations with particular support being expressed for an investment that both significantly enhances leisure facilities and delivers revenue savings of approximately £181k per year.

Some Councillors expressed disappointment that a learner pool was not included in the proposal of the recommended Bidder Y, which could impact upon the need for schools, nurseries, clubs and other groups of young people.

The Leisure Consultant explained that in establishing a business case for the proposals, an analysis of demand had been carried out which demonstrated that there was not a specific need for a learner pool due to sufficient existing capacity, which could be utilised by the above groups through programmed activities.

A Member sought assurance that the Council had followed a robust procedure given the narrow margins between two good bids.

The Director of Services assured Members that the process followed in selecting a bidder had been robust and advised that Officers were confident that a legal challenge could be defended.

RESOLVED: That

1.    the competitive procurement approach taken and outcome of that process be noted

2.    the recommendations that Bidder Y be appointed as the Council’s Preferred Bidder with Bidder X appointed as the Reserve Bidder in the event that the contract with Bidder Y cannot be finalised.

3.    oversight of the project be delegated to the Director of Services in conjuncture with the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer and in consultation with the Chair of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee together with the Leader of the Council.