Agenda item

Consider report by Director – Infrastructure and Environment. (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director – Infrastructure and Environment which provided an update on the repair works to Peebles Swimming Pool and sought approval for further repair works to be carried out.  Reinstatement works began in January 2023 focused on repairs to the damaged roof, plant room, and the internal fabric of the main pool hall.  Works were due to be completed to enable reopening of the swimming pool for operation by Live Borders by the end of April 2023.  During works, a number of other issues had  been identified which the Council intended to address whilst progressing with the reinstatement works, however this was expected to delay completion of the works until July 2023.  In response to a question regarding what activities had been undertaken at the site between June 2022 and January 2023, the Director – Infrastructure and Environment explained that various groups had accessed the building and undertaken a range of activity.  Specialist decontamination teams had checked the building for the presence of asbestos. Engineers had undertaken assessments of structural problems and damage to the plant equipment.  The entire process had been complicated due to the building being occupied by LiveBorders, a third party.  That arrangement had led to two teams of insurers and two teams of loss adjustors working at the site.  Following that process, SBContracts had accessed in the site in January 2023 and uncovered damage to the electrical systems, fire alarms, security system, and roof which had not been detected to that point.  The Director confirmed that a full breakdown of all of the costs involved was being worked on, and conversations were ongoing regarding settlement of the insurance claim.  The Director agreed to undertake the production of a lessons learned report which would outline where problems had arisen and how they could be avoided on future projects.  The Chief Executive confirmed that the insurance claim, which would only cover works to reinstate the pool to its previous condition, and not the additional works under discussion, represented a net payment of £450k to SBC.  Following an extensive debate on whether to fund the additional works from financial reserves or the capital budget, Members agreed not to use financial reserves to fund the additional works, and agreed that a report should be produced which would explore alternative methods of financing the works.  

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)        to notethe continued reinstatement works at Peebles Swimming Pool;

(b)       to approve the work required to the remaining roof as identified in the report as part of the Capital Programme 2023/24 Block Allocation;

(c)       to approve the additional works identified in the report which were estimated to cost in the region of £200k;

(d)       that an additional report would be brought back to the Executive Committee in the event that additional costs were incurred or works required;

(e)        that a lessons learned report evaluating the project be prepared; and

(f)        that a report exploring alternative methods of funding the additional works agreed at B and C be brought back to the Executive Committee.

MEMBER

Councillor Weatherston re-joined the meeting.