Here is a summary of the agenda for the upcoming Gedling Council Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet is expected to discuss the Leisure Transformation Programme, including recommendations from the updated Leisure Strategy, and the results of the 2025 Leisure Transformation Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement. A decision on the next phase of feasibility work for the Carlton Leisure and Community Wellbeing Centre is expected, as is a consultation on the future of the joint use agreements for leisure centres in the borough.

Leisure Transformation Programme

The Cabinet will be provided with an update on the Leisure Transformation Programme, according to the September 2025 - Leisure Transformation Report Final. The report recommends that the Cabinet notes the research, findings and recommendations from the updated App A Gedling - BC - Leisure Strategy 2025 - FINAL, which is intended to form the evidence base and strategic framework for future investment and management of the council's leisure portfolio. The September 2025 - Leisure Transformation Report Final also recommends that the Cabinet notes the results of the App C Gedling Borough Council Engagement Report - July 2025 and App D Gedling BC Focus Group Public and Stakeholder Report Aug25.

The report also asks the Cabinet to approve further feasibility work on the recommended outline facility mix for the Carlton Leisure and Community Wellbeing Centre (Carlton Active ), based on Option 3 - core facilities with soft play, but without a 3G football pitch. The report states that the council appointed Alliance Leisure as its Development Partner through the UK Leisure Framework to support its feasibility work on Carlton Active. The report also states that the council commissioned Max Associates to update the Strategic Outcomes Planning Model and prepare a new Leisure Strategy. According to the report:

The updated Leisure Strategy confirms the need to rationalise the portfolio into fewer, higher-quality facilities, with investment focused in Carlton and Arnold as the Borough's two strategic hubs. In Carlton, this means replacing Carlton Forum and Richard Herrod with a single consolidated hub on the Richard Herrod site. This consolidation addresses significant maintenance liabilities at both centres, reduces subsidy, and provides a clear strategic direction for the future of leisure provision in the Borough.

The report also recommends that the Cabinet agrees that the council will continue to engage with and offer non-financial support to Gedling Indoor Bowls Club in exploring relocation options, and agrees to undertake consultation to seek a public view on the council withdrawing its service provision from the joint use agreement leisure centre sites.

Carlton Active Proposal

The September 2025 - Leisure Transformation Report Final states that the Leisure Strategy confirmed that Carlton Active should act as one of the Borough's two strategic leisure hubs. The report notes that Carlton Forum is the Borough's flagship Leisure site for participation, but is over 50 years old, reaching the end of its life with significant maintenance issues, and operates under a joint use agreement that limits the Council's direct control. The Richard Herrod Centre, fully owned by the Council, attracts the highest subsidy of any site. The report states that together, the two facilities require over £2m of condition survey works and an annual net subsidy of around £545,000, making them unsustainable in their current form and making new provision in the Carlton area a priority for investment. The report also notes that the next step for Cabinet is to agree the outline facility mix for Carlton Active, which will form the brief for design development, provide the framework for testing affordability and funding options, and set the strategic direction of the project. The report states that the recommended core offer for Carlton Active is:

• 8-lane main pool
• Teaching pool
• Gym approximately 100 stations
• Assisted exercise suite
• Two group exercise studios
• Dedicated spin studio
• Multi-use community room suitable for sporting and non-sporting activities and community hire.
• Café linked to reception
• Full-size 3G all-weather pitch

The report also notes that two optional elements have been considered:

• Soft play aimed at under 8 year olds.
• Six-rink indoor bowls facility

The report states that the core Leisure Centre Capital Cost is expected to be in the region of Circa £30M, excluding the Bowls, Soft Play & the 3G Pitch. The report notes that the funding requirements for this are not known with any certainty and will be considered once the Full Business case has been developed early in 2026. The report states that the capital funding is expected to come from a variety of sources which includes, Capital Receipts, Community Infrastructure Levy¹, Earmarked Reserves and External Grants. The report also notes that the Strategy commits the Council to engaging with and supporting Gedling Indoor Bowls Club in exploring relocation options, but that while the Council can commit officer time, support will be deemed non-financial, but can include advise and exploration regarding external funding options should any be available.

Forward Plan

The Cabinet will consider the Printed plan Forward plan Cabinet, which sets out the details of the key and non-key decisions which the Executive Cabinet expect to take during the next six months. The plan includes the following key decisions:

• Annual report of Senior Information Risk Owner 2024/25
• Burton and Station Road development options
• Ambition Arnold
• Gedling Borough Statement of Community Involvement October 2025
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
• Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy
• Business Case for Revised Cemetery Opening Hours
• Council Tax Reduction Scheme Consultation
• Greater Carlton Long Term Plan for Neighbourhoods
• Fees and Charges 2026/27
• Council Tax Reduction Scheme
• Review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations - St Albans Parish
• Budget Monitoring and Virement Report – August to November 2025
• Prudential Code Indicator Monitoring 2025/26 and Treasury Activity Report for the period ended 30 November 2025
• Housing Strategy 2025-2030
• Boroughwide Houses in Multiple Occupation update
• General Fund Revenue Budget 2026/27
• Capital Programme and Capital Investment Strategy 2026/27 to 2030/31
• Prudential and Treasury Indicators and Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) 2026/27
• Gedling Plan Quarter 2 Performance 2025/2026 report
• Council Tax 2026/27
• Adoption of Local Labour Agreement SPD