Issue - meetings

Verbal report and presentation updating on capital projects.

The Scrutiny Commission was provided with a presentation on the key capital projects over the previous few years and also gave an update on those in progress. Amongst those mentioned were industrial estates, the Atkins Building, the Crescent, the Squash Club, the former depot site, Hinckley Hub, the Jubilee Building and the leisure centre. Officers also stated they were looking at the possibility of bringing some disused factories on Wood Street back into use in partnership with the ballet school, the college and Creative Hinckley.

In relation to the Crescent bus station development, it was reported that around 150 construction jobs would be created during the development, including locally recruited apprentices, and local art work would also be used in the development. Linked to the progress on this development was also Hinckley Squash Club, who had now been supported to find alternative accommodation.

It was noted that the site of the former Council depot on Middlefield Lane was being demolished and would soon be marketed for redevelopment. It was reported that the anticipated capital receipt was £2.2m.

With regard to the leisure centre, members were reminded that the plans had been amended to meet some of the requests received, including increased spectator seating and changing room capacity for the swimming pools. It was stated that an update on the leisure centre would be given under the next item of business. In response to a member’s question, it was reported that the anticipated capital receipt on the site of the current leisure centre was £2m, but that this would depend on the market and its intended purpose. Members were assured that land valuations were undertaken regularly and re-assessed each time the MTFS was updated, and as such were the most up to date available.

It was reported that there was a 1% vacancy rate at the Hub and options for filling this were currently under discussion. In response to a member’s question, it was noted that about a third of HBBC staff were home workers as this had not only reduced the space requirement in the Hub, but more importantly had been proven to improve performance and output.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) attached.

Members received an update on capital projects including Hinckley Hub, Atkins, the Jubilee building, the Bus Station development, the Leisure Centre and MIRA. It was reported that all offices in the Atkins building were fully let ahead of the Business Plan target; the Hub was on track for completion and staff relocation in May/June; administrative staff would soon be moving into the Jubilee building with operational staff two weeks later; a more detailed delivery programme for the bus station site would be available soon; there had been a lot of interest in the procurement process for the Leisure Centre on the Argents Mead site; and part of the RGF money for MIRA had been received and more detailed design work including the A5 upgrade was being procured.

It was agreed that the capital projects would be revisited when there was progress to report.