Agenda item

To advise Cabinet of the proposal submitted by Brightlingsea Town Council in respect of the future of the Brightlingsea Swimming Pool.

To consider the offer in the light of the financial implications and to determine whether to accept the offer and the impact of such an acceptance.

That:

a)       Cabinet agrees to the proposal set out by Brightlingsea Town Council;

b)       Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director (Operational Services) to manage the impact of the reduction in savings within existing budgets in consultation with the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits; and

c)       Cabinet agrees that, by the end of September 2017, arrangements be put in place to commence the transfer of the pool to Brightlingsea Town Council, the exact details of the transfer arrangements to be agreed by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services), or further agrees that the Pool be decommissioned and authorises the Corporate Directors (for both Corporate Services and Operational Services) to commence the decommissioning process. 

There was submitted a joint report by the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Health and Well-being (Report A.4), which sought:

• to advise Cabinet of the proposal submitted by Brightlingsea Town Council  (BTC) in respect of the future of Brightlingsea Swimming Pool (BSP); and

• to consider that offer in light of the financial implications and to determine whether to accept that offer and the impact of such an acceptance.

It was reported that, following the decision made by Cabinet in June 2016 to accept an offer from BTC to undertake capital repairs to BSP and for TDC to cover the running costs of the pool for the shortened 2016 season, communication and discussions had been ongoing between BTC and TDC about the future of the Pool.

Cabinet was aware that a deadline had originally been set for the end of 2016 for a decision to be made as to whether BTC would take a long lease on the Pool and to maintain and operate the Pool thereafter or for TDC to decommission the Pool.         Following a meeting in early 2017, at which BTC had set out the actions it had taken to evaluate the feasibility for them operating the pool, a proposal had been submitted by BTC to part meet the cost of operating the pool for the 2017 season in order to allow BTC more time to complete their feasibility work.

The proposal made by BTC was as follows:

1.    BTC agrees to make a contribution of 50% of any operating loss for the 2017 season, up to a maximum of £30,000;

2.    In order to minimise losses and maximise revenues it is recommended that the official opening period of the pool is truncated and limited to eight weeks from the 15th July to the 9th September. This will allow the pool to be prepared and ready for the six week school holidays;

3.    BTC will commit to developing a business plan and exploring options in respect of site improvements, grant aid funding, the use of renewable energy technology and community/trust involvement in the future management of the facility;

4.    BTC will commit to providing a full report on all of its findings and proposals to TDC at a meeting to be held on 21st September (provisional date) at the Brightlingsea Parish Hall;

Councillor G V Guglielmi thanked Brightlingsea Town Council for making such a strong case for keeping the swimming pool open.

Having considered the information submitted:

It was moved by Councillor G V Guglielmi, seconded by Councillor McWilliams and:

RESOLVED that:

a)    Cabinet agrees to the proposal set out by Brightlingsea Town Council;

b)    Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director (Operational Services) to manage the impact of the reduction in savings within existing budgets in consultation with the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits; and

c)    Cabinet agrees that, by the end of September 2017, arrangements be put in place to commence the transfer of the pool to Brightlingsea Town Council, the exact details of the transfer arrangements to be agreed by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services), or further agrees that the Pool be decommissioned and authorises the Corporate Directors (for both Corporate Services and Operational Services) to commence the decommissioning process.