A councillor fears the King Alfred project could cost millions more than projected. Green Councillor Ollie Sykes said forecast costs of the plan, which would see the crumbling leisure centre in Hove demolished and replaced with a new facility on the existing site, could come back to “bite” the council. His comments came at Monday’s place overview and scrutiny committee.
A group of seven Green and Conservative councillors called in Brighton and Hove City Council cabinet’s decision to rebuild the leisure centre on its current site rather than in Benfield Valley, made last month, saying that not enough information had been published to back it up. Under the new cabinet model opposing councillors can “call in” decisions made by the leading party in order to scrutinise them and call for changes. The merit of the decision was not being scrutinised at the meeting but rather the way the decision was made.
Cllr Sykes highlighted concerns the project was not compliant with HM Treasury guidance, questioning the council’s decision to define the redevelopment as a standard project. He said government guidance states that developments on brownfield sites and involving demolition should be classed as "non-standard". Read more: Council fears people wouldn't use leisure centre if disrepair was made public The Green Party said if the council had used this definition the projected budget for the scheme could potentially have been millions of pounds higher.
Overall, the project is .