Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer presented the report which updated Members on the progress made on the training centre programme and Sadler Road requirements. The report also provided information about the requirements for the replacement of the Incident Command Training Suite (ICTS), vehicle workshop renovation and security enhancements at Sadler Road and the consolidated budget requirements for the associated works.

The report provided details of the previous decisions made in respect of the future options for the provision of training facilities and the retention of the vehicle workshop at Sadler Road.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer explained that the decision to retain the vehicle workshop at Sadler Road had reduced the space available for the training centre and it had been a challenge to fit all the requirements on the existing site.  This had implications for the ICTS which would need to be re-located and the subsequent upgrade/refurbishments costs had been added to the overall programme budget.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer informed Members that the total cost of the capital project was forecast at £9.05m.  This included £7.5m for the core training centre facility, £0.3m workshop renovations, £0.25m site security and the £1.0m ICTS upgrade which it was intended to fund from reserves. He also drew Members attention to the proposals to build and upgrade training facilities at some of the fire stations in order to move the centrally delivered training courses from Sadler Road during the build phase.  Provision for the necessary upgrades to current facilities were included in overall costs but Members were asked to note that there would be additional revenue costs (circa £100k per year) due to the requirement to temporarily outsource some courses during the build phase.

A Member queried if the Authority would need to take out a loan and how it would deal with the VAT arrangements for the build. The Head of Finance explained that the capital costs would be covered by reserves so there was no requirement to borrow and the risk to VAT recovery had been reviewed. It was noted that the Authority had taken specialist advice on the VAT recovery risk and would continue to monitor the risk throughout the build.

A Member asked for further detail on the practicalities of the interim plans for training and requested that the interim training arrangements be monitored by Performance and Overview Committee. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer explained that the project team were linking into the proposed station refurbishment programme and also looking at other possibilities to provide some of the training such as commissioning from neighbours. It was anticipated that the interim training plan would be implemented by April/May 2018.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the training centre programme and Sadler Road requirements be delivered subject to successful procurement being undertaken;

[2]          the following sums be approved:

              £7,500,000  Training Centre (funds already earmarked and including the £0.5m approved in September 2016)

                 £300,000  Vehicle Workshops Renovation

              £1,000,000  Incident Command Training Suite Reprovision

                 £250,000  Sadler Road Site Security

              £9,050,000  Total

[3]       an overall contingency of 5% be approved (to be applied as       necessary and appropriate);

[4]       the Estates and Property Committee be required to identify Members to engage in procurement, contract award and contract management;

[5]       the requirement for further funding to ensure continuity of operational training during the redevelopment of the Sadler Road site be noted.