More libraries, double opening hours, new state of the art IT equipment and extra services could all be on the books for library users in Salford.

The city, which launched the UK’s first free public library in 1850 is planning to buck the national trend by expanding its service in the face of hundreds of national closures or volunteers being drafted in to run libraries. KKP assessed library condition, location, catchment, usage, staffing, cost, catchments and the other factors that impact upon the Service’s value in, relevance to and impact on, the community.

Salford City Council is looking at investing up to £590,000 over the next four years across the service; which is managed by Salford Community Leisure Ltd (SCL). This includes spending £100,000 on replacing all IT equipment and providing digital learning as requested by members of the public. (The consultation process which accompanied the review reached more than 3,600 local residents).

The Council’s ambitious plans and the funding to be allocated over the next four years will see Salford libraries expand into seven new sites. These include its Helly Hansen Watersports Centre which will serve the Salford Quays area plus local leisure and community centres. Weekly opening hours will double and extra opening hours in the evenings and at weekends are also in the pipeline.

The proposed investment will assist the City Council, working closely with SCL, to save £1.26 million over four years via better use of technology and co-locating services.

City Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett said: “This will be an investment in the future of our city.

“Libraries not only help people learn, gain qualifications and open up better paid jobs, they also provide free access to digital technology which helps people save money and gain new skills. They are essential for lifting people out of poverty and developing a life-long love of learning.

The investment in IT facilities goes well beyond simply upgrading computers. Library visitors will be able to charge personal laptops, tablets and mobiles and print from them. Digital novices will be given more support to get online, while those wishing to seek more advanced or specialist learning will also be helped.

Mayor Dennett added:  “Last year nationally over 350 libraries closed and over 300 more faced closure or were being transferred to communities to run them. To be able to announce the complete opposite of that – expanding and upgrading library services – is amazing and such a bonus for the people of Salford. We cannot put a price on the return this investment will generate in terms of supporting local people to learn, grow and achieve.”

John Eady, Chief Executive of KKP said: ‘We are delighted with the outcomes of the review. KKP has worked on a range of assignments with Salford City Council and Salford Community Leisure; these include the libraries review, its playing pitch and indoor and built facilities strategies and on the facilities planning that underpins other upcoming investment. We are proud of being a long-term, trusted partner of the City and the Trust.

“KKP delivers strategic and service reviews for many local authorities in the UK including leisure/sports trusts, NGBs, social enterprises, CSPs and commercial operators. Specialist expertise includes governance, leadership/management, operation and performance management in sport/leisure, libraries, community provision, specialist sport/physical activity programmes, open spaces, parks and play

Link to the report:

https://sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk/documents/s4792/Cabinet%2026917%20-%20REPORT%20Salford%20Libraries%20Service%20Improvement%20Programme.pdf

For more information about our strategic review and business development services, please go to http://www.kkp.co.uk/what-we-do/business-development-strategic-review/ email mail@kkp.co.uk

Or call 0161 764 7040.

A look back at our feasibility study for the International Sports Village – Iskandar, Malaysia, by KKP’s Chief Executive, John Eady

 

Feasibility studies are a large part of KKP’s business and we have undertaken many throughout the UK; which have led to some of the country’s key sports facilities. We have also been very lucky to have provided our expertise and advice to clients in China and Malaysia.

 

In 2014, KKP, working for Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Malaysia’s strategic investment funding body) delivered a detailed feasibility study, specification and business plan for a £40m sports village (the SVIM) in Medini, Malaysia’s second city.

 

The SVIM, which is in the process of being developed and includes a range of indoor and outdoor sports facilities designed to cater for a range of uses from international events and games based competition through to community sport and physical activity.

 

KKP’s feasibility encompassed assessment of domestic and world markets which greatly influenced our input into the design specification for the facility, in order to achieve the required outcomes.  Business plans, financial modelling, sensitivity analysis and long term lifecycle costs were factored into a comprehensive feasibility report.

 

As part of the study, KKP hosted various delegations from Malaysia to visit key facilities in the UK including Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the FA’s National Football Centre at St George’s Park, Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games venues, Old Trafford Cricket Ground and SportCity in Manchester.

 

The SMIV in Medini will have an extensive indoor sports arena with integrated spectator facilities which functions both as a major events venue and service anticipated demand from the growing adjacent city. It also encompasses extensive fitness facilities, squash, multiple studio spaces, retail and café areas plus sports science/medicine provision.

 

The facility will also have three full-sized floodlit artificial grass pitches, community grass pitches, futsal/five a side courts, cricket nets and commensurate parking and landscaping. The pitches will sit alongside a cricket oval with capacity for temporary searing for up to 20,000 spectators, enabling it to attract and host Indian Premier League matches.

 

John Eady, Chief Executive at KKP who led on the study, says: ‘This was a project that changed radically and fundamentally as a consequence of the feasibility process. Khazanah will develop a venue that achieves its international games and events aspirations, and enables Johor and Medini to deliver their respective commercial viability objectives’.

 

TOP TEN TIPS FOR COMMISSIONING YOUR NEW SPORTS/LEISURE CENTRE
By KKP’s Managing Director, David McHendry

 

KKP’s work with clients includes a long list of successful leisure centre projects. However, even the most responsible of building contractors will try to construct your centre as cheaply as possible.

This means that, if the process does not get the right level of expert supervision, ‘corners can be cut’. This then affects the longer term quality and maintenance costs associated with your building.

With this in mind, we’ve developed our ten top tips to ensure that your leisure centre is of the quality that you want:

1. Ensure that your Employers Requirements (ERs) documentation is comprehensive and robust. This should include fully dimensioned plans, sections, elevations, and comprehensive room data sheets (ideally an NBS specification). These are all essential.
2. If the Contractor’s Proposals (CPs) don’t match your requirements – deal with it. Make it justify every proposed change and make sure that what is done is right for you and the long term quality of the facility.
3. Get a priced risk register for, for example, ground works, services connections, diversions, site variables and any changes to legislation.
4. Ensure that your contractor’s proposal meets all the standards and regulations you need to conform to; e.g., Amateur Swimming Association, Sport England, PWTAG etc. Although the list can be long it is worth it. Make absolutely sure that these are all written into the agreement and the conformance to them is monitored and evaluated.
5. Get a branding document drawn up with expected level of finishes detailed and highlighted. This should dovetail with and complement your room data sheets.
6. Keep a watchful eye on room areas and heights. It is not uncommon as the design development progresses for rooms to get smaller and even, in certain circumstances, disappear.
7. Be realistic about the programme; but once agreed monitor closely and very regularly
8. Use an experienced leisure Project Manager (PM) who is directly employed by you the client, not the construction team. S/he will be your main ally managing the above issues. Ensure that you employ someone who understands sport/leisure buildings on your project management team. If you don’t you may miss things that make a considerable difference to the cost, flexibility and effectiveness of the building operation.
9. Do your best not to commit to one contractor team too early in the design process; this can significantly lessen your control and financial accountability. Keep the environment competitive for as long as possible to stop cost and scope ‘creep’.
10. Returning to point one; undertake extensive market testing and consultation before fixing the brief and the design. Ensure that all relevant experts and stakeholders have had a realistic input.

Not every contractor is out to take advantage of its clients but there is no doubt that subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) value engineering to deliver increased contractor profit is all too common – here is a list of some of the key ones to look out for:

• Store rooms and corridors shrinking and even disappearing; resulting in trampolines and table tennis tables being stored in corridors, ceiling so low that they affect lighting, ambience and the overall feel of a building – these are all potential casualties!.
• Tweaking of tiling specification and heights
• Downgrading of floor finishes; which can have a significant impact on the ability to keep changing rooms clean – especially wet change areas.
• Windows getting smaller and fewer in number, meaning that natural light is limited in areas where you would most want it.
• External works being downgraded to just basic seeded ground and poor tarmac with few kerbs; resulting in a poorer than expected ’arrival’ which can make a big difference to the customer experience.
• Fixtures and fittings not being included in room data sheets so that the cost of them bounces back to the client. Typical examples are pool hoists, hair dryers, mirrors etc.
• Complex ironmongery (door closers, handles etc.) not being to the right standard and, thus, not being able to cope with thousands of opening and closing actions per week over a sustained number of years….this only impacts on the quality of the customer experience.
• Phasing work and business continuity issues must be addressed in a timely manner – not doing so is inviting future problems.
• Insurances being missed – you, your staff and your building need to be covered; the contractor does not cover this.
• Site set up arrangements not being properly discussed and agreed prior to commencement – this is typically overlooked and is an area where substantial cost can then be added.
• Undercooked M&E specifications – leading to overcooked clientele in your studios and activity spaces.

We hope you find this useful. If you would like to comment or discuss this with us email DM@kkp.co.uk or telephone 0161 764 7040.