Agenda item

Members considered the following motion submitted by Councillor C. J. Bloore:

“Council notes the outpouring of public concern about the removal of the sports hall from the current Dolphin Centre redevelopment.

Council notes the current and growing number of names to a local petition asking for a sports hall to be part of the redevelopment of the Dolphin Centre.

Council notes the changes in business rates proposed by the Chancellor George Osborne that could give the Council more income than first thought to build a leisure centre.

Council notes the lack of evidence presented to Councillors proving there is no need for a sports hall as part of the redeveloped Dolphin Centre.

Council believes the lack of indoor sports facilities in Bromsgrove and the shortage of available court and pitch spaces in all weather facilities across Bromsgrove will limit the ability of local people to stay fit and for clubs to train.

Council believes there is real difficulty for local residents to have access to privately run sports hall facilities in Bromsgrove.

Council believes that the intended Olympic legacy of the London 2012 games was to promote sports participation and healthy living through the maintaining and improvement of sporting facilities in local communities.

Council believes that Bromsgrove’s residents deserve a regenerated leisure centre that meets the needs of its residents. A leisure centre that includes an onsite sports hall open to the public.

Council resolves to suspend all activities to build a leisure centre that does not contain an onsite  sports hall.

Council resolves urgently to revisit and review the financial plan to redevelop the leisure centre to include the building of an onsite sports hall as soon as possible.

The motion was moved by Councillor Bloore and seconded by Councillor L. C. R. Mallett.

In proposing the motion Councillor Bloore referred to the importance of a wider strategic vision in line with the Olympic legacy as opposed to designing a facility to fit a pre decided “ financial envelope”. Councillor Bloore felt that the Sports England report had been used selectively and with a lack of context. Planning Policy also indicated the importance of a sports hall. Whilst there may physically be alternative facilities in the District there would inevitably be a difficulty in availability at peak times and in particular for block bookings.

During the debate the view was expressed that the plans for the new leisure centre were the same now as those agreed in July 2014.  A key issue in deciding the facility mix had been affordability. The basic position had not changed in that under prudential borrowing rules  the  inclusion of a sports hall in the capital costs of the project would mean there would be insufficient funding to progress the remainder of the scheme.  

Councillor Laight reported that officers were continuing to work with North Bromsgrove High School and BAM FM to provide peak and off peak usage. There would need to be flexibility on both sides as times may need to change slightly and “like for like” bookings could not be guaranteed.  Recently additional facilities had become available such as Bromsgrove School and the all-weather facilities at Bromsgrove Tennis and Hockey Club.

The scheme had been supported by Sport England at regional and national level and by the Amateur Swimming Association.

The view was also expressed that the significant cost of the project was funded by all Council Tax payers but not all would be able to benefit from it.   On this basis the motion was welcomed as an opportunity to reconsider the project.

It was also suggested that whilst there had been consultation, it appeared this may not have been sufficiently robust. Concern was expressed regarding the financial modelling and business case which relied upon an increase in the membership in the face of competition from private sector providers.

During the debate, the financial basis of the proposed facilities was queried.  It was suggested that the current proposals would result in a “down graded”  leisure centre  due to the lack of a sports hall and the limited capacity to host events such as swimming galas. 

On a requisition under Council Procedure Rule 18.3, the following details of the voting were recorded:

For the Motion:  Councillors  S. J. Baxter, C. J. Bloore, M. T. Buxton, S. R. Colella, C. A. Hotham, R. E. Jenkins, L. C. R. Mallett, C. M. McDonald, S.P.  Shannon, M. Thompson and L. J. Turner (11)

Against the Motion:  Councillors B. T. Cooper, G. N. Denaro, R. L. Dent,

M. Glass, J. M. L. A. Griffiths, H. J. Jones, R. L. Laight, P. Lammas, K. J. May, R. D. Smith, C. B. Taylor, P.L. Thomas,  S. A. Webb and P. J. Whittaker (14)

Abstentions:  Councillor  S. R. Peters (1)

(Councillors R. J. Deeming and P. M. McDonald had left the meeting at this stage)

The Chairman therefore declared the motion to be LOST.