News just in suggests that we may see contractors on-site within the next couple of weeks. In response to questions from a few members, please note that the siting of the new pavilion is such that there will be no need for us to vacate our existing clubhouse during the preparation and building phases.

Update 18th April 2007

As previously reported, progress remains stalled, with now no scheduled start date and no draft lease agreement for review & presentation to members.

MAC Chairman Chris Donald has been in constant communication with David Scott at the council, in an attempt to expedite matters, but without any real positive response. In consequence, Chris has escalated the matter with Councillor Richard Fagence (RBWM Cabinet Member - Leisure and Cultural Services) and received the following email response:

From: RICHARD FAGENCE
Sent: 18 April 2007 13:32
To: Chris Donald
Subject: Braywick Pavilion

Dear Chris

Further to our recent conversations I set out below the situation as I understand it to be at the present following my discussions with David Scott.

Last June the Council took a decision to progress the re-provision of the current changing pavilion with a new building which was to include a replacement club house for Maidenhead Athletics Club. This re provision was subject to a number of details to be negotiated with the proposed supplier and with MAC in relation to the proposed design and a new lease with the Club. The new pavilion will be funded to a large extent by Developer Contributions collected by the Council from a number of developments in and around the Maidenhead area with an additional contribution from MAC towards the overall cost of the build.

Following the decision being taken, as you know, David Scott put together some options which were forwarded to you as Chairman for the consideration of your club committee. I understand that there have been two meetings between you, your club treasurer and David Scott and, as a result of those meetings, revised proposals were put together via e-mail and by telephone. I know that you have been very keen to secure the best possible long term deal for the club to help secure its future on a strong financial basis.

As I understand it, David Scott has worked with David Oram to put together a proposal that aims to offer the club the best possible deal for a community-based club such as yours, while still being a reasonable property proposal that considers the wider obligations for the council to ensure best value and balance the wider needs of the community. As you will appreciate, this has not been easy and has limited the scope for reaching an easy solution.

The design of the building has been the subject of a number of detailed development stages. I understand that David Scott has outlined these to you and to the Braywick Sports Users Group. This approach links closely with the decision to procure the new building through a single supplier route. This approach was, and still is, considered to be the most cost effective way to complete the re-provision of these facilities. My understanding is that this approach will deliver the new facility at a cost of some £400k to £500K less than a more conventional design approach. I regard this a s a significant benefit to the wider community of the Royal Borough at a time when resources are limited and very best value must be secured.

The procurement process for the new building has taken longer than was originally planned partly as a result of design developments following site investigations, the incorporation of more sustainable features into the building. As a result the normal design process has been broken down into stages with the proposed supplier to ensure that the level of risk to which the council is exposed is managed and controlled effectively.

David Scott tells me that you have sought to secure extremely 'good vale' for the club in terms of the new lease arrangements and have asked about the options on the contribution the club might make towards the overall cost of the club house element of the new building. However, you have not been satisfied with the relatively small benefit to the rent when an increased capital investment is considered. I understand that David has tried to explain that this reflects the fact that the council has been as supportive as possible and that the investment and return are not 'straight line' considerations, bearing in mind the 'good value' you have been keen to secure.

Although I note that you have indicated that you are a partner in this project, the council has taken all the design development costs on board and has not increased the costs to MAC from those used as the base from earlier last year. This week officers have received the next set of design details from the supplier and will be reviewing them over the next two to three weeks to confirm that they meet the design brief previously outlined. I expect that the project will then move to the next development stage following this review and the build programme will then be confirmed.

I have asked David Scott to liaise further with you in the matter of the proposed lease for your re-provided club house facilities. I think it would be helpful if you could copy David Scott in to any future correspondence to me. As it is approaching the time of the Local Elections, for which I am campaigning very hard to secure our re-election, it may be wise to ensure that David is kept in the loop directly.

I apologise for the length of this e-mail but I hope it addresses the concerns you expressed about the scheme to me and, I understand, to David Oram about the project as a whole and considerations from the perspective of the club and your future formal lease.

Kind regards

Richard Fagence

In the above (verbose?) email, Cllr Fagence relates his understanding of the current situation, but does not go any way to intimating when the two essential outstanding questions relating to start date or provision of lease document will be answered. In his reply to this email, Chris has thus reiterated the need for answers as a matter of urgency. Although it is difficult to deliver any credible optimism, we remain confident that Chris's' persistence will rouse some movement in the very near future.