To consider the recommendations made by the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee in relation to the call in of the Key Decision on swimming provision for primary schools in and around Hereford City and the future of the LEA swimming pool.

Cabinet considered a report giving details of the recommendations made by the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee in relation to the call-in of the key decision on swimming provision for primary schools in and around Hereford City and the future of the LEA swimming pool.

The Chairman of Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee, presented the report and reminded Members that Cabinet had considered the LEA pool facility on two previous occasions and subsequently by the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee.  She reported that she had been contacted by many people in her role as Chairman, with the view that the pool should be re-opened and requested that the local community be given the opportunity to put forward a business plan.

The Leader reminded Members that at the Cabinet meeting on 31 July, a business plan in respect of the LEA pool had been considered.

The Chairman of the Strategic Monitoring Committee expressed concern about the lack of communication and consultation prior to the closing of the pool.  The Labour Group Leader stated that he had requested that all community groups should be consulted on the LEA pool issue but believed this had not been carried out.  He took the view that following the swimming successes in the recent Olympic and Para-Olympic games, and with the next Olympics being held in this country, it was likely there would be more demand for swimming.  He referred to a development at Saxon Gate and Section 106 agreement monies which he considered could be utilised towards maintaining the pool.  He urged Cabinet to support the Scrutiny Committee recommendations.

The Leader emphasised that if the LEA swimming pool was a community project it was for the community to put a business case forward.  He reminded Members that the provision of swimming for the over 60s had some budgetary pressure and that there were also budgetary implications for the provision of free swimming for the under 16s.  With these issues in mind, the lifespan and business expansion of the HALO pool had been considered.  He further pointed out that the Herefordshire pools swimming capacity had been increased and that the capacity, functionality and safeguarding issues at all public swimming facilities and the LEA pool were continually being monitored.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources reminded members that LEA pools were maintained to certain standards and finance was set aside in this respect. In view of the maintenance guidelines which needed to be adhered to and other budgetary pressures to maintain the LEA pool, she could not support the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee recommendations.

A Member in attendance was of the view that the arguments in respect of the LEA pool had been put to Cabinet a few months previously but welcomed sound reasonable and sensible ideas to enable the pool to be re-opened.  He referred to a large number of the community who wanted the pool to re-open and considered its re-opening to be essential.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Community Services supported the exemplary work of staff at the Hereford Leisure Pool in providing the facility for the community, and was also of the view that a business plan was required to support any re-opening of the LEA pool.

The Cabinet Member Environment and Strategic Housing endorsed the need for the community to put forward a business plan and feasibility study which would need to be viable for several future years.

The Alliance Group Leader referred to the Council’s business debt, which he believed was in excess of £100 million, and was of the view that the additional cost to re-open the pool was small by comparison.  The Director of Resources informed Cabinet that the long term borrowing of the Council was £94 million.

The Independent Group Leader commented that he felt that Council could find a way of keeping the pool open.

The Liberal Democrat Group Leader referred to the current expenditure on the refurbishment of Brockington and took the view that such funds could have been spent on the swimming pool.

The Cabinet Member Social Care Adults stated that the question to be considered was whether the Council should continue to utilise an up to date Hereford Leisure pool facility or should the Council spend money on an old pool.

The Leader emphasised that priority must be given to ensuring that the public swimming pools run by HALO on behalf of the Council were appropriately maintained, particularly given the need to provide swimming facilities for over sixties and under sixteens.  It was also important to have the views of the local community and to be aware of the capital and revenue situation of the LEA pool.

RESOLVED:   That

(i)                 the LEA swimming pool not be reopened;

(ii)               alternative provision from September 2008 be offered at Hereford Leisure Pool and that this provision by HALO be monitored to ensure that the needs of schools and other users continue to be met;

(iii)             close collaboration and partnership working be undertaken between the Council and HALO with schools, clubs and other users of the LEA pool to ensure that a viable and efficient service is provided;

(iv)             the local community to submit a feasibility/business case to cover several years on the viability of the use of the LEA pool; and

(v)               a report be brought back to Cabinet by Easter 2009 at the latest outlining the outcome of the process.