At the meeting of the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure Committee (TCCL) on 16th June 2021 a decision was taken to reopen Europa Leisure Pool for the 2021 school summer holiday period 19/07/21– 05/09/21 (inclusive) subject to there being no covid restrictions imposed by the Government during that period.

Wirral continues to experience an increasing number of new cases of Covid19. Owing to the rapid increase in new infections, dominated by the Delta variant, Liverpool City Region was designated, by HM Government, as an area of Enhanced Response on 14th June 2021. The current rate of infection in Wirral is fourth highest in the Liverpool City Region and as at 14th July 2021, in the top 20 nationally. Further detail on Wirral infection rates is provided in section 3.5 of this report.

This report therefore recommends that the decision of the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure Committee on 16 June 2021 is not implemented as the opening of this facility at the capacity required to ensure the protection of public health and financial viability would be unsustainable in light of these local conditions.

The provision of a Leisure Pool offer is a non-statutory function of the Council.

Not to reopen Europa Leisure Pool during the school summer holiday period from 19/07/21 - 5/9/21 and authorise the utilisation of the space within the facility for an alternative provision of sport and activity.

Wirral continues to experience an increasing number of new cases of Covid19.

Despite a central Government announcement on 12^th July 2021 regarding the  relaxation of COVID19 regulations from 19^th July 2021, owing to the rapid increase in new infections, dominated by the Delta variant, Liverpool City Region was designated, by HM Government, as an area of Enhanced Response on 14^th June 2021. The current rate of infection in Wirral is fourth highest in the Liverpool City Region and as at 14^th July 2021, in the top 20 nationally. Infections rates across the North West also continue to increase and new cases of Covid-19 are now rising across the country. The opening of this facility at the capacity required to ensure the protection of public health and financial viability would be unsustainable in light of these local conditions.

The provision of a Leisure Pool offer is a non-statutory function of the Council.

Reopen the Leisure Pool at full capacity – this option is not recommended as it would fail to satisfy the conditions on which the Council has agreed to reinstate venues as per section 1.2 of this report.

Reopen the Leisure Pool at reduced capacity. This option was discounted as financial modelling indicates that the facility could potentially incur significant losses. As the leisure pool environment is predominantly uncontrollable, there is also no assurance that even with measures in place, there would be no infection transmission risks.

As a contingency to the potential impact of the pandemic and any prospect of the Leisure Pool being unable to reopen in Summer 2021, officers from within Leisure services developed an alternative solution to the use of the leisure pool space. Utilising a mezzanine floor, the space can be reprovisioned as a much-needed multi station gym / exercise space. The existing gym provision at Europa Pools was constructed as a retrospective “add-on” and consequently suffers from a lack of space and equipment. The provision of additional gym and exercise space has the potential to increase memberships and pay and go use of the facility, resulting in much needed income without the associated cost incurred by a leisure pool. There would be no requirement for the excessive heating, pumps and equipment, additional staffing and other expenditure associated with the Leisure Pool whilst the additional equipment would provide access to physical activity for those living in the area and who use the centre. Modelling suggests that with the right level of usage and marketing activity, the gym could provide a return on investment within 6 months. Works to provide adequate levels of ventilation in the space have already been completed.