Agenda and minutes

To formally elect a Chair of the Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved:      That Councillor Aspden be appointed Chair of the Yearsley Pool Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee.

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda.

Councillor Richardson declared a personal non pecuniary interest in respect of his employment, selling pumps, as a self employed Water Engineer.

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. The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Monday 23 February 2015.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

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

Fiona Evans spoke on behalf of the Yearsley Pool Action Group thanking the Committee for agreeing to examine ways in which to secure the long term future of the pool. She expressed concern however at the funding models examined in the report and asked for an evaluation of the alternative funding model pools, using the same criteria. She also asked Members to examine staffing costs, availability of land adjacent to Yearsley Pool and the non-competition clause in Greenwich Leisure Ltd’s draft contact.

Denise Craghill, spoke on behalf of the Green Party, also welcoming the work being undertaken by the scrutiny committee to secure Yearsley Pool’s future. She referred to the need to find funding for the pool from 2016 and to concerns regarding future management, following Greenwich Leisure Ltd’s operation of Yearsley until the New Stadium Leisure Centre opened. She also referred to the need for the pool to generate additional income and asked the Committee to undertake discussions with the adjacent landowner.

This scoping report provides information for the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee, appointed to look into ways to reduce the subsidy given to Yearsley Swimming Pool whilst securing its long-term future.  The Committee are asked to agree the draft objectives, methodology and timetable to progress the review.

Consideration was given to a scoping report prepared for the Committee, in response to a request from Cllr Aspden for the Council to undertake a scrutiny review, to examine ways in which the subsidy given to Yearsley Swimming Pool could be reduced whilst looking to secure its long-term future.

Members noted that the request had arisen, following the Council’s decision to reduce the budget available for the leisure facilities. It was also noted that Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) were now the preferred bidder to operate the Council’s facilities including Yearsley Pool. It had previously been agreed that the future operation of Yearsley would need to be considered six months prior to the opening of the New Stadium Leisure Centre (NSLC). This would provide the option for the operator to continue with the management if it could be operated without Council subsidy, or exploring other operational structures with the community and stakeholders if the operator decided not to take up that option.  Details of the operating costs, income and expenditure together with trends and usage of Yearsley Pool were available at Annexes C to D of the report.

The Scrutiny Officer outlined details of the draft objectives and timetable of meetings suggested to support the objectives and progress work.

Officers confirmed that the contract with GLL had not yet been concluded and was the subject of ongoing discussion. Officers pointed out that the draft contract, as it stood, did not include a anti-competition clause.  A briefing would be provided to the scrutiny committee; however, so as not to affect the ongoing procurement discussions information could only be shared privately with members at the present time. Officers also confirmed that GLL, as an experienced leisure provider, were keen to provide their assistance with the Council’s reviews and to engage in discussions with stakeholders.

Members confirmed that for the 24 March meeting they would require:

·        Confidential information with regard to GLL’s contract position

·        Further analysis of the financial information with regard to current funding arrangements in order to help members direct officers with regard to the framework of possible operating models that they would wish to examine 

·        Plans of the Yearsley pool site.

Following further lengthy discussion it was

Resolved:     (i)   That the Committee agree the draft objectives, as set out at paragraph 13 of the report.

(ii)    That the methodology and timetable to progress the review, set out at paragraph 14 of the report be agreed subject to the following additions:

·     16 March 2015 – 4-7pm consultation meeting (venue to be arranged) preceded by Member visit to Yearsley Pool

·     24 March 2015 – 4pm informal Member meeting to consider confidential information around GLL’s contract position, followed by a formal meeting at 5pm to examine detailed financial information to shape possible options

·     April date tba – Visit to Nestle and York St John University

·     29 April, 3.30pm, if possible or date tba – public meeting to received feedback from visits

·     June 2015 – Visits to other leisure facilities and to examine  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.