A sneaked consultation
Consultation on proposals to close Manningham and Rhodesway swimming pools, and to limit the hours of opening of the Bingley Pool and Manningham Sports Centre begin officially on Monday April 18 – but no announcement has been made of this.
The list of current consultations, viewable at http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/Consultations, includes the following:
· Older Peoples Joint Commissioning Strategy
· Flood Awareness Consultation
· Local Transport Plan 2011-2026, First Three Year Implementation Consultation
·
But BradLEAKS has obtained a so far confidential document that says that consultations on closures/restrictions of these facilities will run from April 18 to May 21, and that they will only consider “expressions of interest to take on responsibility for the running of one or both of these facilities”.
The document claims that “pools at Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Queensbury, Bingley and Shipley are all within nationally recognised guidelines for reasonable travel time to swimming pools and offer capacity to cover demand resulting from the two closures” – but this takes no account of the fact that females-only sessions required by Asian woman and girls will not be possible at those pools, since they are overlooked by windows and balconies.
The document admits that the “planned closures and service reductions have generated significant objections, protests and negative media coverage”.
But it makes no attempt to address the concerns of those who believe that these objections should be met by savings in, for instance, the salary of the Council’s top earner, chief executive Tony Reeves, who took home over £180,000 – £178,476 salary plus £4,095 other remuneration – in 2008/9. If he were paid no more than the £142,500 the Prime Minister receives, the saving would go a long way to covering Manningham Pool’s running costs.
Hundreds of people are signing the petition to keep Manningham Pool open, and this will be presented to the full Council in May. Meanwhile, the hyper-active “Save Manningham Pool” Action Committee has decided to question all local council election candidates in the pool’s catchment area on whether they support its closure.
They are also planning to link up with other groups opposing the sacrifice of faciulities like libraries and swimming pools.
Whoever controls the Council after the May 5 elections, they are going to have a hard job getting their closure plans through.
The leaked document
Here is the full, unedited text of the leaked document:
1. Background
In light of Central Governments public spending cuts Members were asked to make some tough decisions and agree a series reductions in Council Services as part of setting the Council's priorities and budget for 2011/12.
For Sport and Leisure Services implications of the budget included the decisions to close Manningham Swimming Pool and withdraw from running Rhodesway Swimming Pool, and also reduce opening hours at Manningham Sports Centre and Bingley Swimming Pool. These planned closures and service reductions have generated significant objections, protests and negative media coverage.
2. Key Issues
In implementing the decision to close Manningham and Rhodesway Pools a process of consultation will be undertaken seeking expressions of interest to take on responsibility for the running of one or both of these facilities.
It is proposed that the consultation will commence on Monday 18 April with the last date for submitting an expression of interest and business case being Saturday 21 May. The consultation process will be carried out electronically and by request for a paper version, with respondents being asked to provide their proposal via e-mail or via postal services to Ian Bairstow, Strategic Director Environment and Sport.
Completion of the consultation period will be followed by a review process to consider proposals that have been received, and subsequently if required a two week notice period before final closure of one, or both facilities.
3. Implications
The overall provision of swimming pool 'water space' will be reduced if Manningham and Rhodesway pools are closed.
However, pools at Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Queensbury, Bingley and Shipley are all within nationally recognised guidelines for reasonable travel time to swimming pools and offer capacity to cover demand resulting from the two closures, with a priority being to ensure continued provision of swimming as part of the National Curriculum at Key Stages 2 and 3.
