a. Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture will give a presentation on the review of leisure facilities in Wiltshire.
b. Councillor Wheeler will follow the above item with an overview of his wider cabinet role and respond to any questions.
Minutes:
a) Leisure Facilities Review
Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, gave a presentation on the Council’s proposals for leisure provision in the county over the next 25 years.
Wiltshire Council had inherited some form of financial responsibility for 23 leisure facilities on 1 April 2009 and it was considered that the present indoor leisure facility stock was broadly outdated, inefficient and unsustainable. £93 million would be required over the next 25 years to sustain the existing buildings, and this did not include any service or building enhancements, which were much required in some of the centres.
Councillor Wheeler explained that the proposals included the Council retaining management responsibilities for some of the existing leisure facilities, developing four brand new facilities within campuses, and devolving the remaining facilities to local communities.
Councillor Wheeler outlined the Council’s proposals specific to the Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area:
• Cricklade Leisure Centre – the Council planned to work with the Cricklade & District Community Association to arrange for agreed investment leading to the devolvement of the facility to the community.
• Lime Kiln Leisure Centre – refurbishments to be undertaken leading to the devolvement of the facility to the community.
• Devolvement could be to a single or a variety of different groups. In other parts of the county interest had been forthcoming from community groups, town/parish councils, schools, existing trusts, etc.
• The Council had commissioned a report on the community trust options to help assist with the proposal.
• Community groups would be given support and advice to set up the organisation.
• Calne and Cricklade, which both already had community-managed facilities, had volunteered to give advice and support where requested.
Following Councillor Wheeler’s presentation, a number of questions and comments arose, as summarised below:
· Currently the Calne and Cricklade community-owned facilities received approximately £70,000 per year from Wiltshire Council which was considered vital to the survival of the facilities. The question was asked whether this funding would be available for Lime Kiln. Councillor Wheeler stated that he was not able to make guarantees at this stage, as he was currently looking for expressions of interest, and issues such as phased financial support would be discussed with interested parties as part of the negotiations.
· In response to Councillor Wheeler’s comment that any devolved facilities would be passed on in a good state of repair, a question arose regarding what ‘good state of repair’ meant. Councillor Wheeler informed the meeting that full conditions surveys had been carried out for all facilities, and the specific work to be done prior to handover would form part of the negotiations with interested parties.
· A comment was made regarding the local schools and the possibility for schools to take responsibility for the devolved facilities. Councillor Wheeler commented that discussions were taking place with the school and that there could potentially be good financial benefits for a school to take on indoor leisure facilities.
· In response to a question regarding what would happen if no willing community group came forward, Councillor Wheeler stated that a four-year period had been set aside to work with any willing groups, and if no interest was expressed by the end of the four years then the Council would need to review the situation.
· A suggestion was made that any community group interested in taking over a leisure facility would need to be provided with a lot of technical information. Lucy Murray-Brown, Leisure Partnership Manager, confirmed that thorough surveys had been carried out on the facilities, and would be made available. The Council had also set aside significant sums of money for major works to be carried out, where appropriate, prior to devolvement.
· In response to concern regarding the freehold of leisure sights being transferred, and how this could affect future use of the land, Councillor Wheeler confirmed that any transfer of freehold would include a conveyance to restrict future use to leisure provision only, and would also include a ‘claw-back’ clause.
· Some disappointment was expressed that Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area would not be benefitting from a new ‘Community Campus’. In response to this, Lucy Murray-Brown commented that the Workplace Transformation Team was responsible for the development of Community Campus’s, and was shortly due to be meeting with Wootton Bassett Town Council to discuss opportunities.
· George Croxford, Head of Wootton Bassett School, stated that the school’s PE facilities were currently limited, mainly because the school made use of Lime Kiln’s facilities, and so there was concern about what would happen if Lime Kiln closed. In response, Councillor Wheeler commented that he envisaged the school’s use of the facility to be a major use, and also hoped that the school would enter into discussions regarding the future management of Lime Kiln.
· The question was asked whether community groups running such a facility would be able to access other sources of funding. Councillor Wheeler stated that this was most certainly the case, as community groups were often able to access funding streams that the Council could not.
Councillor Wheeler advised the meeting that anyone interested in obtaining further details, or in expressing interest to manage a leisure facility, should contact Lucy Murray-Brown.
To conclude Councillor Wheeler’s presentation, a survey was carried out using the held-held voting system. The responses to the survey were not intended to form part of the formal consultation, but would provide officers with an indicative ‘snap-shot’ of people’s views.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Wheeler for his presentation and encouraged people to respond to the consultation.
b) Questions for the Cabinet Representative
Councillor Wheeler provided an overview of his Cabinet Portfolio, which was Leisure Sport and Culture. He talked about the responsibilities and current objectives of the Sports Team, which targeted young people and aimed to increase participation. He also talked about the Council’s Funding and Events Manager; Tamzin Ewers, and explained that Tamzin could assist local clubs and groups with accessing funding. Councillor Wheeler also talked about the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham, which was a joint initiative between Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council and included county archives, family history, local history, school records, county archaeology and more.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Wheeler and suggested anyone with specific questions should submit them after the meeting and a response would be arranged.