Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 22^nd March 2023, Agenda item 15 Hyndburn Leisure Transformation – Investing in the Health of Hyndburn, Cabinet resolved:

That Cabinet:

(2)          Agrees to replace the current Mercer Hall leisure facility and Wilson Pavilion with a new facility at Wilson Playing Fields, as detailed in paragraph 4.5 and supported by the Site Options Analysis Study (Appendix 1);

(3)          Agrees to progress feasibility work to repurpose Mercer Hall, to ensure that it remains a community asset

In accordance with the Call-In Procedure for Cabinet Decisions, the procedure has been activated. The following documents are included:

Call-In Form

Copy of Cabinet Report from 23^rd March 2023 – Hyndburn Leisure Transformation – Investing in the Health of Hynburn

Copy of appendix to above Cabinet report – NEXUS Site Option Analysis

Copy of appendix to above Cabinet report – Mercer Hall Leisure Centre EIA

Extract from Minutes of Cabinet 22^nd March 2023

Recommended – That the Committee does ONE of the following:

·         To release the Cabinet decision in full for implementation; or

·         To release the Cabinet decision in part for implementation, and refer the outstanding part of the decision back to the decision making body for reconsideration, setting out in writing the nature of its concerns; or

·         To refer the decision back to the decision making person or body for reconsideration, setting out in writing the nature of its concerns.  The decision maker shall then reconsider amending the decision or not, before adopting a final decision.

The Chair explained that at its meeting on 22nd March 2023, Agenda Item 15 Hyndburn Leisure Transformation, Cabinet resolved:

That Cabinet:

Agrees to replace the current Mercer Hall Leisure Facility and Wilson Pavilion with a new facility at Wilson Playing Fields, as detailed in paragraph 4.5 and supported by the Site Options Analysis Study;

And;

Agrees to progress feasibility work to repurpose Mercer Hall, to ensure that it remains a community asset.

In accordance with the Call-In Procedure for Cabinet Decisions, the procedure has been activated. The following documents are included in the agenda for the convenience of members:

•           Call-In Form

•           Copy of Cabinet Report and appendices from 22nd March 2023

•           Extract from Minutes of Cabinet 22nd March 2023

Following the Council’s procedure for consideration of items called in, the Chair invited Councillor Colin McKenzie, Sponsor of the Call In to speak first.

Councillor McKenzie explained the headline reasons for the Call in can be seen on the Call in form, which is included in the agenda. They are, namely:

-       Concerns regarding objectivity and independence of the Site Options Analysis

-       Possible factual inaccuracies in the reports

-       Funding status

-       Concerns decision has been made based on poor information

He said that he had spoken to many residents regarding this issue, and he felt it was clear that there is distrust from the community in the decision that has been made and suggested the Council and Hyndburn Leisure were using the reports to try and justify a bad decision. He said that he, and many others, felt like building a new facility at Wilsons was always the preferred option by the Cabinet and Hyndburn Leisure and that any subsequent reports or surveys commissioned have been done so in a favourable manner to Wilsons.

Cllr McKenzie wished to shared the views of local residents and groups. He first referred to comments received from Great Harwood Otters, a local swimming club who raised the following points:

-       Major repair work was carried our previously on the pool at Mercer Hall Leisure Centre

-       Opening a new pool in Clayton-Le-Moors means there will be 3 pools in the Accrington area and none in Great Harwood

-       Since the club moved to Hyndburn Leisure Centre, there has been a lack of new children from Great Harwood joining

-       The planned 25m 4 lane pool is not big enough for club use, they don’t feel there will be enough public users to make it sustainable

-       The club have never been consulted with

-       Nobody wants a pool in Clayton-Le-Moors

Cllr McKenzie said that he was happy to see that the Site Options Analysis had been redone, he still had concerns:

-       RAG charts are objective

-       The criteria selected for scoring favoured Wilsons. It looks like it was created to fit the preferred option

-       Some of the scoring for Wilsons is questionable, particularly around accessibility, visibility and capacity.

-       Lack of work gone into establishing ownership details for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 377

Report attached.

In accordance with Regulation 11 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, approval was obtained from Councillor Patrick McGinley, Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to the following decision being made by Cabinet on 22^nd March 2023, under the special urgency provisions for key decisions, on the grounds that the decision was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred.

Members considered a report of Councillor Marlene Haworth, Deputy Leader of the Council, informing the Cabinet of work undertaken by independent consultants to the Council on potential alternative sites for the development of the proposed new leisure facility.  The additional report had been carried out in response to stakeholder feedback, highlighting concerns regarding the independence of the previous site options report.

In addition, the report sought approval to amend the delegated authority in place for the project.  Delegated authority for this project had previously been agreed to the Deputy Chief Executive.  As a result of the delegated person retiring from the organisation, the report identified a new director to delegate these responsibilities to.

Councillor Haworth outlined the main elements of the report, including the overarching need to increase public participation in health and wellbeing and the delivery of an investment plan to address the issue of ageing facilities via Hyndburn Leisure.  She reminded Members of the option sites considered by the consultants.

Each site had been assessed objectively using the same criteria.  Wilson Playing Fields was the independent consultants’ recommendation.  The site was already an established leisure and sports location.  Wilson had a good balance of access, parking facilities, links to countryside walks, which would support the site’s long term management and deliverability.  None of the other sites were considered to be suitable.

The report to Cabinet also reinforced the Council’s commitment to repurposing Mercer Hall and reiterated that it was no longer suitable for use as a leisure facility.  That building was not large enough and any extension proposed would be costly given the heritage considerations.  The building did however have potential for other uses.  It was an attractive structure and remained a positive addition to Great Harwood town centre.  There was now an opportunity to reinstate some of the original features of the historic building.

The proposed new leisure facility at Wilson Playing Field would be financed by up to £10M from the Council.  A funding application had also been made to Sport England for £2M.  The outcome of that bid was awaited.  An application would also be made to the Council’s capital fund in 2023 to deliver feasibility work at Mercer Hall.

The Leader commented that the process had continued over many years and had been well documented in numerous reports.  The emotional attachment of some residents to the existing leisure facilities was understood, but the decision had to be taken with the head rather than the heart.  It was still the intention to repurpose Mercer Hall, as had been done with Great Harwood Town Hall, Bank Mil  ...  view the full minutes text for item 338