Agenda item

The Executive RESOLVED that

(i)            the original scope of the tennis court redevelopment project to be extended to include tennis courts sites at Frimley Green and Mytchett Recreation Grounds;

(ii)          agreement be given to the terms and conditions of the Lawn Tennis Association’s funding;

(iii)         a tender process to source and appoint a suitable lighting contractor be undertaken;

(iv)         the completion of project deliverables be delegated to the Strategic Director – Environment & Community in consultation with the Leisure, Culture & Community Portfolio Holder; and

(v)          a corporate contingency of 20% of the capital project budget be set aside from the Corporate Projects Reserve, with authority to spend this fund delegated to the Strategic Director – Finance & Customer Services in consultation with the Finance & Customer Services Portfolio Holder and the Leisure, Culture & Community Portfolio Holder.

The Executive was reminded that, at its meeting on 26 May 2020, it had agreed a capital project budget of £135,000 for the purpose of redeveloping the tennis courts at Watchetts Recreation Ground to create a floodlit, mixed-use Tennis and Netball facility.

In October 2021 the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) had committed £8.4m of funding to refurbish public tennis courts across the UK. Following a successful stage 1 funding application, the LTA had advised it would be willing to invest in the region of £140,000 to help the Council to bring the playing surfaces at Watchetts, Mytchett, and Frimley Green Recreation Grounds back to a playable standard, subject to meeting funding conditions. The LTA’s funding would also cover the introduction of gate access technology at each site, along with certain fencing and net post repairs.

It was reported that the LTA’s funding would not extend to funding the installation of floodlighting at Watchetts, connection to a 3 -phase power supply, or any netball elements to be introduced with the Watchetts redevelopment. However, these costs had been included within the original scope of works previously agreed for the Watchetts redevelopment in May 2020.

Members recognised the opportunity the LTA funding provided to extend the project to the courts at Frimley Green and Mytchett. It was reported that, due to the size of those courts, it would not be possible to convert them for dual use as netball facilities, but other upgrades such as floodlights could be explored at a future time.

RESOLVED that

(i)     the original scope of the tennis court redevelopment project to be extended to include tennis courts sites at Frimley Green and Mytchett Recreation Grounds;

(ii)   agreement be given to the terms and conditions of the Lawn Tennis Association’s funding;

(iii)  a tender process to source and appoint a suitable lighting contractor be undertaken;

(iv)  the completion of project deliverables be delegated to the Strategic Director – Environment & Community in consultation with the Leisure, Culture & Community Portfolio Holder; and

(v)   a corporate contingency of 20% of the capital project budget be set aside from the Corporate Projects Reserve, with authority to spend this fund delegated to the Strategic Director – Finance & Customer Services in consultation with the Finance & Customer Services Portfolio Holder and the Leisure, Culture & Community Portfolio Holder.