To receive a presentation from Mark Smith (Director of Neighbourhood Services) on the recent review of leisure facilities in Wiltshire.
Minutes:
Councillor Stuart Wheeler, in his role as Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, gave a presentation on the review of council-owned indoor leisure facilities.
Wiltshire Council had inherited some form of financial responsibility for 23 facilities around the county, including many facilities which were out of date and inefficient. The situation was unsustainable, with £93 million required over the next 25 years merely to sustain the existing stock, excluding any investment to improve the building.
As such, proposals had been developed on the basis of £117 million investment over 25 years, to deliver a high quality, efficient and sustainable service. This would also go some way to meeting carbon reduction targets, with leisure facilities currently accounting for 21% of the Council’s carbon emissions.
The proposals would see four new facilities within campuses, with another two existing facilities being significantly enhanced and retained. The remaining facilities would also receive significant capital investment, before being made available for transfer to community management arrangements, as part of a robust process including support and identification of suitable business models, phased financial support resulting in independency, and potentially the transfer of freehold. It was acknowledged that different mechanisms and solutions would suit different facilities, and so a report on options had been commissioned to give examples of arrangements which had been established in other areas.
The Pewsey Sports Centre had been identified for devolvement to community management. This could be to a single or a variety of different groups, and it was anticipated that the Parish Council would be involved in the process as an enabler, for example in identifying potential groups. To this end, the Parish Council was proposing a public meeting in October or November. All Parish Councils in the area would be invited to attend and to contribute to this process.
Consultation on the proposals was taking place up to 29 October 2010, with details available on the Council’s website, and at libraries, leisure facilities and offices. A report on the outcome of the consultation would be submitted to the Cabinet in December, and the Council would consider the results in February 2011.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Wheeler for the presentation, and invited questions and comments:
· Following a comment regarding the priority given to the school at the Pewsey Sports Centre, the Chairman undertook to liaise with Pewsey Vale School Head Teacher, Carol Grant, over the time slot allocated to the badminton club.
· It was suggested the Pewsey Sports Centre could be transferred to private ownership. Councillor Wheeler commented that if a private enterprise could present a business plan that would be acceptable to the community then this could be considered. However, it was noted that privately run leisure facilities often relied on membership arrangements and higher prices.
· Expressions of interest were welcomed at anytime from now onwards, and it was confirmed that statements of accounts, and revenue details would be made available on request to interested parties. Support would be offered by the council to any groups wishing to develop a business plan.
Before concluding the item, Councillor Wheeler invited those present to give an indication of their views about general principles involved in the development of the leisure service, by means of the electronic voting handsets provided.