Agenda and draft minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any interests they might have in the business on the agenda.  The following personal, non-prejudicial interests were declared:

• Cllr King, as a member of the Young People’s Working Group
• Cllr Vassie, as a regular user of Yearsley Pool
• Cllr Waller, as a governor of York High School.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5pm the working day before the meeting.

To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Philip Crowe spoke in relation to agenda item (Review of Leisure Facilities Strategy (Swimming)), on the issue of potential sites for a new city centre pool.  He suggested that the Park Side / Terry Avenue site, which was not one of those listed in the report, would be highly suitable to accommodate a community pool, being close to bus routes and within walking distance of a number of residential areas.  He urged Members to re-visit their ideas for this site, which was currently earmarked for residential use.

In response to these comments, Officers confirmed that any proposed site for the pool would require a full appraisal before its suitability could be judged and that there were flood defence and other issues around the Park Side / Terry Avenue site which would have cost implications for any development there.

This report sets out the reasons for the referral of the decision made by the Executive relating to Review of Leisure Facilities Strategy (Swimming). It also explains the powers and role of Strategic Policy Panel in relation to dealing with this referral.

Members considered a report concerning the referral of a decision made by the Executive on 23 October 2007 on an item entitled “Review of Leisure Facilities Strategy (Swimming).  The report set out the details of the Executive’s decision, the reasons for the referral given by Cllr Scott, Leader of the Labour Group, and the powers and role of the Strategic Policy Panel in dealing with the referral.

The following motion (Motion 1) was put by Cllr Scott and seconded by Cllr Potter:

“That the Executive be recommended to choose Option b(ii) in the report of 23 October (withdraw from the partnership with the University and build a new Council community pool instead, costing around £6m), with an added recommendation that an all party working group be established which would report back to the appropriate EMAP and / or Executive Committee with a view to implementing the decision to build a City Centre Swimming Pool, identifying the appropriate location and design brief).”

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared lost (by 6 votes to 5).

Cllr Scott then put, and Cllr Potter seconded, the following motion (Motion 2):

“That the Executive be recommended to resolve:

1.         That the Council reconfirm its commitment to the partnership with the University on the following minimum conditions being met:-

a)                 That the University pool is completed and open to the general public by 31^st December 2011;

b)                 That the location of the University pool is agreed with the Council and is in such a location as not to deter public use;

c)                 That the hours of casual public use be no less than enjoyed at the proposed Oaklands and existing Yearsley pools and shall include peak time public access for the life time of the pool.

d)                 That the charging structure for public access shall:-

(i)                 be no greater than the highest charge charged by the Council;

(ii)               provide a like discount for York Card holders and concessionary groups as in Council run pools;

(iii)             provide a like discount at the same level as offered for family swimming in Council run pools.

2.         That the Council reaffirm its commitment to providing swimming in the City Centre at the earliest opportunity by setting up an all party Working Group to investigate possible locations, partnerships and funding.  The Working Group to report to the appropriate EMAP at 6 month intervals.

The vote on this motion was inconclusive.

The parties’ voting positions on the above two motions were as follows:

Cllr Gillies, on behalf of the Conservative Group, indicated that he would be prepared to support the Executive’s original decision, subject to the following conditions being incorporated into the formal resolution:

• A completion date of no later that 2011 must be secured
• Access for residents must meet the Council’s requirements
• The pricing structure must be commensurate with other Council owned pools
• Full details of the operating costs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.