Bid to replace water flume at swimming pool

Members of Warwick District Council’s executive committee will decide next Wednesday whether they can agree to allow the officers to spend £81,000 on a new flume from Loyal Grove Leisure LLP. Building surveyor Russell Marsden has explained that the market for the supply and fitting of water flumes is highly technical and extremely limited. He reports that the usual tendering process might result in higher management fees and the “significant risk” of attracting tenders that are technically unsuitable.

The present flume is currently closed to swimmers and requires urgent repairs estimated at £30,000 and - even if they were carried out successfully - they would not solve all other health and safety concerns.

The officers are asking for an exception in accordance with the code of procurement practice on the grounds that it is not in the best interests of the council to follow the tender procedure.