Agenda and draft minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members will be invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

The Chair invited Members to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

Cllr Merrett declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 3, as his daughter has or has had swimming lessons at the Barbican and Edmund Wilson pools, and is a member of York Baths Club.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday 5 January 2007 at 10am.

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

Mr Crowe spoke as a resident of York regarding Agenda Item 3, York West Swimming Facilities. He stated that he accepted that the preferred option was Oaklands, but raised his concerns regarding the fact that the proposal was only for a five-lane pool. He stated that a six lane pool could be put on the site and that it could be funded through the available budget. He also raised concerns about the University proposals and the timescales involved. He stated that the drawings in the documentation were not to scale and he had asked for scale drawings but these had not been available. He requested that the item be referred back to the Executive for consideration.     

To consider the above decision called-in by Councillors Evans, Smallwood and B Watson in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution.  A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for call-in, the remit and powers of Scrutiny Management Committee in relation to the call-in procedure, together with the original report and decision of the Executive.

Members considered the decision on York West Swimming Facilities from the meeting of the Executive on 19 December 2006. This had been called-in by Councillors Evans, Smallwood and B Watson in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution. A cover report was attached setting out the reasons for the call-in, the remit and powers of SMC in relation to the call-in procedure, together with the original report and the decision of the Executive.

The Executive Leader had agreed that, in the light of the results of the public consultation, Option C at the Oaklands site be selected as the preferred location and way forward for modernising swimming and leisure facilities (including an enhanced gym and crèche) on the west of the City, that the proposed agreement with the University of York involving a partnership approach to providing new swimming facilities in the south of the City be supported, and that Officers be requested to pursue as quickly as is practical the plans for refurbishment of the Yearsley pool.

However the calling-in Members sought reconsideration of the decision as detailed below:

(a)   Despite claims, the consultation is not a fair representation of York residents views. The fact that only parts of the west side of   the city were consulted is not representative, as residents from other parts of the city are also going to use this pool;

(b) The replacement pool is smaller and has limited spectator facilities, despite initial proposals for a much better facility;

(c)   The adequacy of a reduced pool width to maintain the current level of swimming lessons without taking time out of public swimming has not been demonstrated, nor has the impact of reduced lessons on swimming for school pupils been ascertained;

(d)   The information on alternative provision for the York Baths Club and spectator swimming in York were not clear enough and are potentially completely inadequate;

(e) The decision on these proposals should not precede confirmation that the University proposal is adequate and deliverable within the timescales stated.

Cllr Smallwood and Cllr B Watson attended the meeting as Call-In Members and raised their concerns regarding the consultation process and stated that this should have been city-wide. They stated that the facilities would not be as good as they are currently, e.g. for spectators, and that the assets of the centre of the city were being transferred to the west of the city.

Members discussed the issue of the size of the proposed pool in terms of it being five or six lanes, and officers clarified that the feasibility study carried out was for a five lane pool and this is seen as being adequate, and is effective and efficient use of the capital available. They clarified that the drawings referred to by Mr Crowe are pictorial only and are not to scale.

The consultation was discussed, and officers responded to the issues raised stating that the consultation was city-wide as responses had been received via the website and the Talkabout panel, as well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.