Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

In accordance with Regulatory Procedure Rule No.4, the Committee noted the termination of Councillor R Bailey and the appointment of Councillor J Howard for this meeting only, thereby giving effect to the wishes of the Political Groups.

Note, no other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business received.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet).

There were no Declarations of Interest received.

To consider the draft Terms of Reference of the Committee, as follows:

Functions

(a)  To consider the opportunities available for the procurement of a new partnership arrangement for the provision of leisure services, which would include significant capital investment for built sports provision, as outline in the Key Action Plan of the Council's Leisure Strategy.

(b)  To report recommendations to Cabinet (and Council when required).

Delegations

None.  The Committee will be consulted on reports prior to being submitted to Cabinet.  As such, these reports will not be routinely submitted to Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, unless a specific request is made.

RESOLVED:   That Council approves the following Terms of Reference of the Committee:

Functions

(a)  To consider the opportunities available for the procurement of a new partnership arrangement for the provision of leisure services, which would include significant capital investment for built sports provision, as outline in the Key Action Plan of the Council's Leisure Strategy.

(b)  To report recommendations to Cabinet (and Council when required).

Delegations

None.  The Committee will be consulted on reports prior to being submitted to Cabinet.  As such, these reports will not be routinely submitted to Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, unless a specific request is made.

To receive a presentation from the Head of Wellbeing and Place Services.

The Head of Wellbeing and Leisure introduced James Foley from Alliance Leisure and Peter Curtis from Hadron Consulting who gave a joint  presentation on the new facility builds in Ormskirk  and Skelmersdale.

The presentation outlined the progress made on both schemes and an opportunity was given to members of the Committee to ask questions.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:-

·         The financial information received, and the important fact that the projects would be driven by affordability.

·         The use of Levelling up Fund monies.

·         It was felt that consultation was important which would give people renewed faith that the development is ongoing.

·         The Youth Zone in Skelmersdale and the possibility of one in the Ormskirk build.

·         The progress made on the new builds was welcomed and Members were pleased with progress made.

·         The effect that rising energy costs could have on the affordability of heating swimming pools. It was felt that this was an important factor.

·         Delivering not just aesthetical buildings but environmentally friendly buildings was important.

·         The layout and design of the two new Leisure Centres was welcomed.

·         Burscough Sports Centre, more details were requested on this scheme  and it was reported that Members would be receiving a more detailed update on the Burscough Sports Centre in the future.

RESOLVED:   A.  That the contents of the presentation be noted.

                        B.  That James Foley from Alliance Leisure and Peter Curtis from Hadron Consulting be thanked for their informative presentation.

(Note:  James Foley and Peter Curtis left the meeting at this point and were not present for the remainder of the meeting).

To receive a verbal update from the Head of Wellbeing and Place Services.

The Head of Wellbeing and Place gave an update to the Committee on the sport and leisure management tender.

He informed the Committee that a report would be brought back to the next meeting of this Committee.

RESOLVED:   That the update be noted,

29 November 2022.

RESOLVED:   That the date of the next meeting would be the 29 November 2022 as scheduled.

It is recommended that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3  of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and as, in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption under Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED:    That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph  3  of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act and as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption under Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider a report from the Head of Wellbeing and Place Services.

The Head of Wellbeing and Place introduced his report the purpose of which was to consider a report from external consultants in relation to the future of the Beacon Golf Course.  Consideration was also to be given to the options and cost implications in respect of the future operation of the golf course and associated buildings.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

·         In relation to the ground's maintenance of the site if the golf course was to close and the costs involved.

·         Looking at the bigger picture if the golf club closed, opening up the area to attract more people.

·         More involvement of the Rangers, holding workshops to attract more visitors to the Beacon

·         Improvement of the existing Club House, how this could be developed

·         Aiming to deliver a financially viable establishment

·         Enhancement to Beacon Park including the access road to the site this was felt to be in desperate need of improvement

·         Toilets on site were deemed to be inadequate and improvements needed.

·         The use of football pitches in the area, so many unabandoned pitches already in the Borough, Burscough Dynamo ran facilities for us which was successful bearing in mind issues already ongoing with pitches at Blaguegate.

·         Use of wildflower patches  to enhance the area.

·         Financial implications were not felt to be very clear, and more information needed in the report..

·         Planning considerations to be taken into account, relevant planning application being submitted.

·         Possibility of animals up at the Beacon and an Eco School using the site.

·         Energy issues and solar farms.

RESOLVED:     That the following agreed comments of the Leisure Procurement Committee be submitted to Cabinet:-

That the following agreed comments of the Leisure Procurement Committee be submitted to Cabinet:-

·          Improvements to the access road and toilets will be undertaken in due course.

·         That Option F as outlined in the report at paragraph 7.1.6 on page  8  of the report was agreed as the best option to take forward subject to more financial information being available