COUNCIL

Subject:        Burleigh Court Expansion

 

Origin:           Bursar & Finance Officer

 


 

1.         At its July 2004 meeting, Council received and endorsed the plan to expand Burleigh Court by creating a substantial number of new bedrooms and other desirable improvements against a business plan showing an attractive return on the investment.  Since then, detailed work on design and cost prediction has taken place against a budget of some £7M and a planning application has been made.

 

2.         A final decision on the project will be necessary in mid-February, when there is no planned meeting of Council.  Since Council is aware of the scope of the project and has endorsed it, I seek  approval to delegate that decision to the Chair.

 

3.         The Chair will be advised by an ad hoc group consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, the Treasurer, the Chair and Chief Executive of Imago @ Loughborough Limited (which now operates Burleigh Court), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Director of Estates Services and myself.  This group will meet on 4th February to review both the tenders received from building contractors and the updated commercial rationale for the expansion.  If all is well and the budget can be met within a small tolerance, this group can advise the Chair of Council to give final approval.  If not, adjustments will have to be made or the issue will have to be deferred until Council meets on 1 April.