Issue - meetings

A report by the Corporate Director, Department for Neighbourhood and Planning is circulated

Public Participation

Questions and a written statement received on this item were provided to Cabinet members, made available at the meeting and can be accessed on the following link of the Council’s website:

http://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=509&Ver=4

Questions

The Leader reported receipt of questions from Mr Stephen Walls to which a response was provided.

Written Statement

The Leader referred to the written submission from Ms Miriam Elloway.

Verbal representations

The Leader provided an opportunity to the above mentioned where present at the meeting and any other members of the public present to address Cabinet to express their views should they wish to do so.

The following speakers addressed Cabinet:

Stephen Walls

Neil Hawker, Westbury Leisure Alliance

Mike Parker, Westbury Leisure Alliance

Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture explained the background to the leisure review and the comprehensive consultation exercise undertaken. It was accepted that many of the Council’s leisure facilities were outdated and unsustainable in their present form. The review had been undertaken with a view to providing a replacement, refurbishment and development programme. The programme focused on a 25 year plan for future development, including proposals for new facilities within campuses, improvements to some existing facilities and the potential transfer of some facilities to local community management.

Cllr Wheeler presented a report which gave an overview of the views collected through the Leisure Review consultation process and identified a refined proposal that took those views into account.

The report also explained how the refined proposal would be delivered as part of the Workplace Transformation Programme. This includes the specification of leisure facilities within campuses, the planned improvements to facilities considered part of the Council’s overall operational estate and the determination of the future management arrangements of all operational estate. Details of the refined proposal were presented as detailed in Appendix A of the report presented.

In response to a question from the Westbury Leisure Alliance, the Leader confirmed that should Cabinet agree the refined proposal at this meeting, it was hoped to provide as much information as possible to organisations and community groups who were interested in managing facilities.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

(a)   approves the refined proposal as set out in Appendix A of the report presented as attached.

(b)  approves that the delivery and implementation of the building and future management elements of the refined proposal be included in and taken forward by the Workplace Transformation Programme.

Reason for Decision

To improve the current indoor leisure facility stock that was inherited as a result of the local government reorganisation.