Decision details

Having considered an officer report, and presentations by two members of the

public and by the jobshare Cabinet Member for Culture, Jobs & Skills,

Councillor Andre Bourne, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that:

(1) Officers proceed with the approach to delivery of leisure facilities in the

borough during the next period including phased approach to the centres as

set out in the report namely:

o   Downham Health and Leisure Centre returns to full operating

capacity as soon as COVID restrictions allow.

o   Glass Mill Leisure Centre returns to full operating capacity as

soon as COVID restrictions allow.

o   Forest Hill Pools returns to full operating capacity as soon as

COVID restrictions allow[FK1] .

o   Wavelengths Leisure Centre returns to full operating capacity

as soon as COVID restrictions allow apart from the leisure

pool whose opening is reviewed in Spring 2021.

o   The Bellingham Leisure and Lifestyle Centre (Bellingham)

returns to full operating capacity as soon as COVID

restrictions allow but given that a significant part of the

centre’s provision will be prohibited even under Tier 3, the

centre will only reopen fully once restrictions in London are at

below this level at least.

o   The Bridge Leisure Centre remains closed for a period.

(2) Officers proceed with an Expression of Interest process to gauge the

appetite amongst third parties to take on a lease for Ladywell Arena and to

operate the site as a publicly accessible facility.

(3) Officers work with the local community to develop a sustainable operating

model for the Lewisham Indoor Bowls Centre while wider consideration of the

Bridge Leisure Centre is ongoing.

(4) Officers undertake proactive work with schools and other institutions to

increase community access to sports hall facilities and neighbouring leisure

facilities to meet demand displaced from the Bridge Leisure Centre; and

(5) Officers return to Mayor and Cabinet in mid 2021/22 with an update and

proposals for the wider leisure facility offer in the borough and further

consideration of The Bridge Leisure Centre.