Issue - meetings

Note:            Councillors Bailey, Key, and McGhee left the meeting at 7.57pm and returned at 8.00pm.

Members heard from the Interim Director of Operational and Commercial Services who presented the Gainsborough Leisure Provision report. It was explained that the Committee was being asked firstly to note the initial feasibility works completed to date and secondly, agree the creation of an evidence based/needs assessment. In addition to this, the Committee was being asked to agree the establishment of a Member/Officer working group, with Terms of Reference to be drafted by Officers; the group would then agree a scope for phase two feasibility works, which would subsequently be brought before both Prosperous Communities and Corporate Policy and Resources Committee. The Director stated that although the original recommendation presented in the report pack recommended that Members agree to the establishment of Member/Officer Working Group, if Members were content in agreeing to the amendment, the Officers advised that the group should instead be a Member/Officer Task and Finish Group. Lastly, the fourth and final recommendation was to agree to tender for phase two feasibility works, following agreement of scope.

It was explained by the Director that the work done to date had provided a solid baseline from which the Task and Finish group would then be able to set the scope and objectives of the project.

Members of the Committee thanked the Director for his introduction and emphasised the importance of taking a holistic approach in exploring options for the both the inside and outside of the Gainsborough Leisure Centre.

A Member of the Committee stressed the value of public consultation, stating the need for the community buy-in.

Responding to discussion about future options for the facility, a Committee Member suggested that Members should be able to visit other nearby leisure centres such as those in Harrogate and Knaresborough for further information on how to utilise outdoor spaces. The Interim Head of Paid Service agreed, adding that Officers would be happy for members of the Task and Finish Group to facilitate visits to other leisure centres to ensure freedom of scope.

In response to a question from a Member of the Committee, the Interim Director of Operational and Commercial Services assured the Committee that no decisions regarding the scope of the project had yet been made. It was explained that the scope would be determined by the Task and Finish Group, with a work programme subsequently brought to both the Prosperous Communities and Corporate Policy and Resources Committees in order to show key stages in the process.

Officers responded to questions about the potential costs of the project; it was explained that definitive figures and public consultation were necessary but would come at a later stage in the process.

Several Members of the Committee considered the project’s progress to date, noting how staffing changes within the Council had previously impacted the decision-making process. In response, the Director expressed hope that the Committee was now assured about the plans to ensure proper levels of governance and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28