Is pool to move?

The move follows a decision taken by councillors in Londonderry last week.

It also follows a leisure workshop held on February 16, with the purpose of agreeing a strategic framework for the development and delivery of Derry City Council's sport and leisure portfolio over the next five years.

Among the suggestions agreed that the strategic framework should include were: Sport and leisure provision will reflect the Council's core corporate aims and objectives; Council must be realistic in what it can provide based on its available resources; significant strategic provision is required on both the Cityside and the Waterside as the core building blocks of the Council's provision; the Council will proceed with two major strategic facilities, complemented by around six District (second-level) facilities and a number of more local community facilities; provision will be primarily needs-based but with an aim of accommodating as many diverse/minority sports/activities as reasonable; Council facilities and what they offer will complement and not compete with each other; complementarity with the plans of others (eg governing bodies) will also be sought; the Council will be open to all types of partnership working to advance its sports and leisure strategy; affordability and value for money will remain paramount for the Council … "and are accepted as equally a consideration for service/facility users: the aim will be to achieve the highest possible level of self-financing/profitability of facilities".

Furthermore, the workshop agreed that a structured small grants programme based on clearly-stated criteria will be considered to support local groups/clubs in their activities: the council needs to consistently and clearly communicate what it provides, where, why, and at what cost; consideration should be given to the demographics and that our young population will require a different range of services as they become older; the area had high levels of heart disease, cancer, alcohol abuse and obesity and there is a need to recognise the importance of community facilities.

Finally, the Council at corporate level will look at developing a "Total Place" approach to the development of sport and leisure - where these activities are looked at "in terms of the entirety of the social and well-being gains they deliver and are funded accordingly from across the public purse".

The council last week agreed three recommendations.

Recommendation 1 involves the appointment of business consultants to undertake a feasibility study for the redevelopment of Templemore Sports Complex and design consultations to produce initial drawings. The feasibility study will consider existing and future requirements at this site and will outline potential funding options. In order to cost this a detailed terms of reference would have to be drawn up for this piece of work and subject to Members' comments. Without the design input, it is anticipated it would cost circa 9200. However, it is considered that outline drawings should form part of this technical assessment.

Recommendation 2 involves the appointment of business consultants to carry out a feasibility study regarding wet provision on the Waterside Lisnagelvin Feasibility, examining the following options: provision of the capital cost of a 25m pool at St Columb's Park as part of the NWRSC development along with associated staffing etc (25 year profile); Do Nothing Option at Lisnagelvin Centre (capital and operational costs – 25 year profile); Cost of 'running Lisnagelvin Centre down' to decommissioning of site and possible sale of land; cost of refurbishing Lisnagelvin Centre (capital and operational costs 25 year profile); non-monetary benefits of moving wet provision to St Columb's Park; risk of moving to St Columb's Park.

A report to councillors said: "In order to cost this a detailed terms of reference would have to be drawn up for this piece of work and subject to Members' comments, this could include some design input for a new facility on the St Columb's site. Without the design input, it is anticipated this would also cost circa 9200. However, it is considered that outline drawings should form part of this technical assessment."

Recommendation 3 involves the appointment of design consultants to produce drawings and costings to assess refurbishment works at City Baths to redress disability compliance issues.