The Head of Community Services has submitted a report to present a proposal which seeks to create a youth hub based in the currently under-utilised space at the Leys Pools & Leisure Centre. This would be made possible by utilising external funding for both capital (building works) and revenue (youth work). The project would be in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.        Grant project approval to create a Youth Hub at Leys Pools and Leisure Centre;

2.        Recommend to Council the addition of £1,120,199 into the capital programme together with £223,907 into the revenue budget for delivery of the project; and

3.        Delegate authorityto the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with theHead of Financial Services / Section 151 officer, the Head of Law and Governance / Monitoring Officerand the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks to award the construction contract to Oxford Direct Services Ltd subject to it being within budget and value for money.

The Head of Community Services had submitted a report to present a proposal to create a youth hub based in the currently under-utilised space at the Leys Pool & Leisure Centre. This would be made possible by utilising external funding for both capital (building works) and revenue (youth work). The project would be in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks, thanked officers for their work on the successful funding application bid to an external funder which had allowed the project - which would provide valuable youth services - to be progressed.

Officers highlighted that the proposal was fully externally funded and fitted well with other work to reimagine leisure so as to better tackle inequalities.  Lots of engagement had been undertaken with young people about the features they would wish to see, such as a climbing wall, and young people would continue to be central to how the project and activity programmes developed over time.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.        Grant project approval to create a Youth Hub at Leys Pools and Leisure Centre;

2.        Recommend to Council the addition of £1,120,199 into the capital programme together with £223,907 into the revenue budget for delivery of the project; and

3.        Delegate authorityto the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with theHead of Financial Services / Section 151 officer, the Head of Law and Governance / Monitoring Officerand the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks to award the construction contract to Oxford Direct Services Ltd subject to it being within budget and value for money.