BROMSGROVE’S cabinet will recommend the extra £700,000 for the new leisure centre to come from a Public Works Loan at the full district council meeting on Thursday (June 9).
The decision was taken by members at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday (June 1).
Portfolio Holder for Leisure Coun Peter Whittaker said: “It’s important this project goes through full Council next week and gets an approval because any delay to signing the contract will only mean further cost pressures will be forthcoming.”
Coun Whittaker said the additional costs were added because of the ground conditions after the demolition of Blackmore House, the sloping site and the need for a DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant car park.
He said the costs were also due to the replacement of the sub station by Western Power, the re-siting and resizing of the water main by Severn Trent to a new position in School Lane – and because inflation on the project is at 9.8 per cent compared to a budgeted increase of 7.1 per cent.
He said this is due to the increased demand for leisure centre replacements around the country.
Coun Hotham said while predicted profits of the Dolphin Centre had jumped from £59,000 to £92,000 – the decision to borrow should not be taken without detailed investigation of these figures.
He said: “They’ve made this recommendation without sufficient understanding or knowledge of affordability. The 50 per cent jump in Dolphin Centre figures is huge and so these figures need to be explained in detail before a decision to borrow £700,000 is taken.”
