Agenda item

Report attached.

Rules of Debate

·         Each motion shall be debated for no more than 20 minutes before being put to the vote.

·         No more than one and a half hours in totality shall be allowed at each meeting for the debate of all motions.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Mike Booth under Council Procedure Rule A9:

1)      Opposing the Closure of Accrington Rail Station Ticket Office

“That this Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper, Northern Rail Chief Operating Officer Tricia Williams and the Rail Delivery Group Chief Executive Jacqueline Starr to oppose the closure of Accrington Rail Station Ticket Office and preserve this vital facility for the benefit of our community.

Hyndburn Council notes the following:

Accrington Rail Station Ticket Office has served as an essential and valuable resource for the local community, offering convenient ticketing services, information, and assistance to passengers.  It is more than just a ticket office.

The closure of the Accrington Ticket Office would result in the loss of vital services and negatively impact the accessibility and convenience of public transportation for residents and visitors alike;

Accrington Ticket Office has been a symbol of community engagement, fostering a sense of safety and security for travellers, particularly during busy periods and emergencies;

The closure of Accrington Ticket Office may lead to a reduction in the quality of customer service and will create potential barriers for passengers with limited access to online ticketing or technological resources;

Accrington Rail Station plays a crucial role in supporting the local economy especially with the ongoing investment in the Town centre, and maintaining the Ticket Office’s operations would contribute to the growth and sustainability of the area”

Councillor Booth expressed delight that the proposal to close Accrington Ticket Office (and others nationally) had recently been halted following an announcementby the Government.  It was unfortunate that the Motion was now out of date, due to the cancellation of the September Council meeting.  He expressed disappointment that he Council had been unable to add its weight to the campaign to retain ticket offices and it would have been useful to lobby the MP on this matter.  The overwhelming response to the consultation was that the traveling public wanted to retain this service.  He applauded those who had supported the local campaign to oppose the ticket office closure.

Councillor Haworth acknowledged the comments made and added that the local MP, who served on the Commons Transport Select Committee, had worked hard and had lobbied for months on this issue.

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Booth then withdrew the Motion.

Next, the following motion was proposed by Councillor Colin McKenzie and seconded by Councillor Scott Brerton under Council Procedure Rule A9:

2)      Motion to Review the Plans for a Swimming Pool at Wilson’s

“With a cost of living crisis and spiralling interest rates, modifications to planning (including increased car parking spaces and road modifications) and spending on consultants now in excess of half a million pounds, the projected cost of the Wilson’s pool has rapidly increased.  There has been no clarity on the financial risk, with contradictory statements made in Council and in public.  Furthermore, we have had a recent change in leadership at the Council, with the Conservatives now in coalition with two Green Councillors, yet building at Wilson’s involves unnecessary building on green belt land and an increase in traffic on an already congested and polluted Whalley Road.

We believe:

That the proposed swimming pool represents a huge risk to the Council’s finances, probably leaving the Council in debt, with interest rates rising.  There has been no evidence that the pool will even be financially viable.  Its construction and operation will cause havoc on the roads and further ill-health to the inhabitants of Clayton.  The building on green belt is unacceptable.  The process needs a thorough review.

We resolve that the Council requests the Cabinet to review and possibly put on hold the Wilson’s project for a period of one year, so that it can be fully reviewed in light of changing financial circumstances.”

Councillor McKenzie spoke in favour of the motion on the grounds of the followings:

• large numbers of swimming pool closures nationally and several leisure providers in financial difficulty;
• the effect of the cost of living crisis on potential customers;
• the financial risks to the Council of continuing with the project;
• public perceptions of a lack of transparency around decision-making;
• a lack of clarity about funding sources, including a possible additional borrowing requirement and call upon the Council’s reserves;
• a lack of a clear business plan and possible funding gap during operation of the facility taking account of potential income and expenditure;
• implications on local traffic if forecast visitor numbers were correct;
• impact of competition from Hyndburn Leisure Centre and the Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa.

A delay was being called for to allow time to consider carefully the above issues.

Councillor Loraine Cox, Portfolio Holder for Leisure Transformation and Leisure Trust, spoke against the motion.  She highlighted the following:

• the project was important to the transformation that Hyndburn Leisure and the Council were driving forward;
• the project would benefit local residents by encouraging healthier lifestyles;
• the Wilson’s project had the full support of the Leisure Trust and Sport England; and
• the project was just one element of a larger transformational programme for local leisure facilities.

A delay to the project would have the following consequences;

• The Sport England Grant offer had a limited time frame for funds to be drawn down (by 31st October 2024).  If the scheme were to be delayed this might put the whole £2.4m grant offer at risk.
• The delaying of the scheme for 12 months would likely increase the contract costs by approximately £660k.

Councillor L Cox asserted that the project had been properly considered and should be allowed to proceed.

Councillors Melissa Fisher, Noordad Aziz and Scott Brerton spoke in favour of the motion.  Councillor Paddy Short commented that the Green group would maintain their opposition to development at this location because of its location in the Green Belt and the proposed size of the car park.  The Leader of the Council spoke against the motion and sought to reassure the residents of Great Harwood and Clayton-le-Moors that the project would deliver facilities which were fit for purpose in the 21^st Century.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule A16.5, six Members present requested a recorded vote on the motion.

The MOTION was then put to the VOTE.

For the Motion

Councillors Heather Anderson, Noordad Aziz, Mike Booth, Scott Brerton, Steve Button, Munsif Dad BEM JP, Bernard Dawson MBE, Melissa Fisher, Colin McKenzie, Caroline Montague, Dave Parkins, Paddy Short, Kate Walsh, Kimberley Whitehead.

Against the Motion

Councillors Terry Hurn (Mayor), Judith Addison, Josh Allen, Peter Britcliffe, Danny Cassidy, Loraine Cox, Peter Edwards, Marlene Haworth, Carole Haythornthwaite, Zak Khan, Sajid Mahmood, Joyce Plummer, Kath Pratt, Steven Smithson, and Mohammed Younis.

Abstentions

None

Accordingly, the MOTION was LOST.