Agenda item

This report sets out a brief background to the item ‘Yearsley Pool Review’ which has been called in for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of consideration by the Executive at their meeting on 16 March 2017. The report also outlines the options available to this committee under the agreed pre-decision call in arrangements.

Members received a report which set out the reasons for the call-in and the role of the Committee, together with options available to it under the agreed pre-decision call-in arrangements.

In accordance with those arrangements, three Members (Councillors Boyce, Looker and D Myers) had called in the above item from the Forward Plan for the following reasons:

·        In advance of an Executive decision, to provide opportunities for closer scrutiny of, and seek assurances on, the financial model for the long term operation of Yearsley pool that to date have not been provided;

·        To understand how the Yearsley Pool Scrutiny Review that was abruptly ended mid-review, has contributed to the review and recommendations due to be presented to the Executive;

·        Furthermore, to learn how the proposals put forward to the Executive will secure the futures of both Yearsley pool and the planned new swimming pool at Monks Cross.

Councillor Looker spoke on behalf of the calling-in Members. She stated that deciding the future of the pool had been a 17 year process and that there was still a lack of clarity. Calling-in Members felt it was not clear at what point the 5 year funding from the New Homes bonus would begin or what would be in place to secure the future of the pool after 2023/24. She also expressed concern that there had been no Member involvement in the options/scenarios being put forward to Executive.

The Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism spoke in response to the points made by the calling-in Members. He clarified that there was no intention to run down Yearsley Pool. He went on to state that all options, including community options, had been fully explored.

The Chair commented that the report had been lacking in detail and that it was a cause of frustration for the Committee that not all of the options had been explored. The Committee felt that the pre-decision call-in process needed to be reconsidered by the administration as the current timescales were unworkable.

Officers were then invited to address the Committee and in response to Member questions stated that:

·        Multiple options had been considered and the four that had been presented to the Yearsley Pool Action group and GLL were:

1.   To continue running with current operating hours.

2.   To operate on a single shift basis (8 hour day).

3.   To operate with a 30% reduction in hours (to mitigate impact).

4.   To operate with a 10% reduction, with the hope that clubs would step in to run activities during the 7-9pm slot, bringing the pool back up to current operating hours.

·        The financial analysis of these options provided by GLL was currently with internal finance being assessed for due diligence. The figures had been received in late December and it was hoped they would be available in the next few weeks.

·        There had been considerable and lengthy discussions exploring community management of the pool, however no feasible option had been found.

·        Although a 10% reduction in hours may look to be a minimal saving in terms of operating costs, over 13 years this would add up to a significant saving, which it was felt was worth the compromise on operating hours.

·        No option had been agreed at this point, there was merely a preferred option. Without due diligence on the financial analysis it was not prudent to put an agreed option into this report.

Members then debated the ‘call-in’ fully and considered the options outlined in the report, namely whether to make any formal comments to the Executive or not.

During this discussion Members again raised the lack of detail in the report.

Resolved:  That Members agree there are no grounds to make specific recommendations or comments to the Executive in respect of the report.

Reason:     To provide scrutiny’s views on the report ahead of it being presented to the Executive.