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    • Agenda and draft minutes

    Craffu ar y Cyd / Joint Scrutiny, Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 14th November, 2024 2.00 pm

    • Attendance details
    • Agenda frontsheet PDF 72 KB
    • Agenda reports pack PDF 13 MB
    • Printed draft minutes PDF 97 KB

    Venue: By Zoom

    Contact: Rachel Pugh 

    Media

    Items
    No. Item

    1.

    Apologies

    To receive apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors J Yeomans, B Davies, J Ewing, A Jones.

    P Roberts  - Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys

     

    2.

    Disclosures of Interest

    To receive any disclosures of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were no Disclosures of Interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

     

    3.

    Declaration of Party Whips

    To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

     

    (NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

    Minutes:

    The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

    4.

    Leisure Paper pdf icon PDF 518 KB

    To receive and consider the Leisure Paper.

    Additional documents:

    • Scrutiny Pro Forma leisure report , item 4. pdf icon PDF 149 KB
    • Appendix A The leisure estate in Powys , item 4. pdf icon PDF 1 MB
    • Appendix B Powys Leisure Review Engagement Key Findings Report 2023 , item 4. pdf icon PDF 1 MB
    • Appendix C FL report NERS Powys - 2023 - 2024 , item 4. pdf icon PDF 3 MB
    • Appendix D Sport Wales pupils survey 2022 LA Report - Powys - English , item 4. pdf icon PDF 938 KB
    • There are a further 14 documents.View the full list of documents for item 4.

    Minutes:

    The Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys led a presentation and supported by the following officers: Director of Corporate Services & Section 151 Officer, Director of Economic Development & Growth and the Capital & Finance Planning Accountant.

    • The purpose of the report was to outline the findings of the leisure review and propose options for the development of a more sustainable and affordable model of leisure opportunities for the long-term benefit of residents and visitors to Powys and secondly to agree to consult with the public about which option should be adopted.
    • The overarching strategic aim was to work with and support the people of Powys to be active to maintain and improve wellbeing.
    • The Director of Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer provided the financial context within which the Council was operating.
    • The Director of Economic Development & Growth presented the key areas covered by the review.
    • The Cabinet Member of a Safer Powys outlined all four options.
    • The Report to Cabinet would be presented on 26 November 2024.

    Issues Raised by the Committee:

    Responses Received from Officers and Cabinet Members:

    It was stated that there was no input from Health Colleagues and the Powys Teaching Health Board.

    Due to lack of collaboration with the Health Board, Officers in Health, Social Services, Education and Freedom Leisure there was a significant number of gaps in information regarding impacts on residents’ health, access to services for vulnerable people and for schools to meet curriculum needs.  Including viability and cost assumptions.

    In turn the Committees found the report to be challenging and asked if it was sufficient for Cabinet consideration.

    The Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys referenced page 353 as the impact assessments provided evidence of health impacts for each option proposed.

     

    There has been full collaboration throughout the leisure review process with Education and the Schools Transformation team and Freedom Leisure

     

     

    The Committees struggled to understand how the options were chosen. If option 1 was not financially viable for the Council, why was it being put out to consultation.

     

    It was asked why a fifth hub had been introduced.

    The Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys stated that Powys adopted Sustainable Powys principles, initially focusing on four major towns. Ystradgynlais was included later due to its size and deprivation issues.

    The Committees did not have information to support the notion that options 2, 3 or 4 were viable from Freedom Leisure’s perspective.

    Freedom Leisure would not provide comments regarding viability of options. Freedom would support the Council in the options it proposes or decisions it makes

    Why was transferring leisure centres to the private sector considered before knowing what Freedom Leisure could manage without a subsidy from Powys County Council. If this was known to be a viable option, why was data not provided in the report.

    As part of the proposed consultation, all options would be further explored

    The Committees asked which option was preferred by Cabinet.

    The Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys stated that the Cabinet had decided not to state  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

    5.

    Scrutiny Recommendations

    To consider and confirm Joint Scrutiny Committee Recommendations to Cabinet.

    Minutes:

    Committees would consider recommendations at the meeting on 20 November 2024.