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Agenda item

New Swimming Pool for Shrewsbury

Lead Member - Mr Gwilym Butler, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Libraries and Culture

 

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached marked 13.

 

Contact – George Candler (01743 255003)

Decision:

(a)  That approval be given for officers to work with partners to progress the “replacement” of existing swimming provision at the Quarry with new swimming provision within Shrewsbury to the feasibility stage and that a further report be provided to Cabinet once the different options had been appraised.

(b)  That a three month public consultation be undertaken to support the development of detailed costed proposals for future swimming provision and that different options be assessed against a shared vision and list of future pool requirements.

(c)  That authority be delegated to the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Libraries to enter into discussion with Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, the current operator and their managing agent Serco Leisure Ltd and to agree a Contract Variation which would enable the Council to appoint Shropshire Community Leisure Trust to operate any new pool provision.

Minutes:

28.1    The Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Libraries and Culture presented a report by the Director of Commissioning – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the existing swimming provision at the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre in Shrewsbury which was now managed by the Shropshire Community Leisure Trust on behalf of the Council.  The report also covered the issues surrounding future swimming provision within the town both in the medium and long term and the four different options which could be submitted for public consultation with a view to a recommendation on a final location being brought back to Cabinet and Council as and when appropriate.  He expressed appreciation of the contribution made by members of the Quarry Swimming Forum in helping formulate the proposals to date and looked forward to working with them in future to progress proposals which were only now in their infancy.

 

28.2    During the ensuing discussion a Member welcomed the proposals and referred to a survey carried out by herself mainly by electronic means which indicated that the majority of persons would prefer for the provision to be kept within the town centre rather than relocated to an edge of town location.  In requesting that this be taken into account she also asked that the provision continue to include gym facilities given that many residents were unable to afford private gym membership.

 

28.3    In response the Leader indicated that the intention was to provide a new enhanced facility at a time when many swimming pools were being closed elsewhere in the country.  He emphasised that the matter would be put out to public consultation and most of the issues raised by the Member including provision for small children would be included as a matter of course.  The Portfolio Holder also explained that the consultation would be far reaching and that the Project Board comprised of individuals from across all sections of the Council with close working also taking place with the Swimming Forum, Horticultural Society and Shrewsbury Town Council.

 

28.4    At this point in the discussion the Leader invited a member of the public to participate in the debate on behalf of the large number of persons present at the meeting for this issue.  In turn the user of the pool, both a student in Shrewsbury and resident from a village on the edge of town, expressed her support for the existing pool to be retained within the town and for it to be refurbished, albeit she also voiced some concern that this might mean the pool was closed for some time.

 

28.5    In response the Portfolio Holder indicated that a full survey of the premises would be undertaken to establish the actual condition of the facility.  The Leader also re-iterated the intention to provide a much better facility to that which existed at present and urged all interested parties to become involved in the consultation.

 

28.6    RESOLVED:

 

(a)  That approval be given for officers to work with partners to progress the “replacement” of existing swimming provision at the Quarry with new swimming provision within Shrewsbury to the feasibility stage and that a further report be provided to Cabinet once the different options had been appraised.

 

(b)  That a three month public consultation be undertaken to support the development of detailed costed proposals for future swimming provision and that different options be assessed against a shared vision and list of future pool requirements.

 

(c)  That authority be delegated to the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Libraries to enter into discussion with Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, the current operator and their managing agent Serco Leisure Ltd and to agree a Contract Variation which would enable the Council to appoint Shropshire Community Leisure Trust to operate any new pool provision.

Supporting documents:

 

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