To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.
Minutes:
Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Mayor and Councillors on matters within the powers and duties of the Council.
Nine public questions were submitted concerning:-
· The accuracy of the operational hours of Avondale Swimming Pool as quoted in the Stockport Leisure Strategy Consultation; and the suitability of the methodology for data collection for the production of mapping and statistics relating to the use of leisure facilities in the Borough.
The Executive Councillor (Leisure) responded that the data used in the consultation had been the latest available figures.
· Why had the Stockport Leisure Strategy Consultation exclusively identified the maintenance backlog for Target Fitness Avondale and whether this information would now be made available for other centres throughout the Borough; and why usage figures for Grand Central had been omitted from the consultation document.
The Executive Councillor (Leisure) advised that information about any backlog of building works at other locations in the borough would be available if this was requested.
· The purchase of pool covers for a number of swimming pools in the Borough and not for Avondale Swimming Pool; and whether the identification of centres at Cheadle, Hazel Grove and Romiley as being best able to provide the level of quality expected by residents was as a result of the additional investment which had been targeted at those Centres, while Target Fitness Avondale had received none.
The Executive Councillor (Leisure) stated that he would provide a written response to the questioner.
· The level of confidence in the content of the Stockport Leisure Strategy Consultation; and the inclusion of unsubstantiated evidence in the previous consultation undertaken.
The Leader of the Council stated that he had full confidence in the current Stockport Leisure Strategy Consultation.
· The continuation of the school crossing patrol on Gorton Road and Longford Road, Reddish.
The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that it was the policy of the Council to have school crossing patrols in place where government guidance indicated this should be the case. It was further commented that the issue of School Crossing Patrol provision would be considered later in the meeting.
· The origins of funding for Grand Central Pool that had been identified in the Stockport Leisure Strategy Consultation.
The Executive Councillor (Finance) responded that the funding in question which would be used for investment in Grand Central Pool would come from the Council’s Capital Programme which was funded by prudential borrowing.
· The necessity of the provision of a new leisure facility for residents of Bridgehall, Adswood and Edgeley; and the disparity in the funding of leisure centres in the Borough.
Councillor Bailey answered that there was no need to provide facilities to replace that available at Avondale and that any replacement facility would not include a swimming pool. It was further commented that Councillor Bailey considered it unfair that other facilities in the Borough had received a disproportionate amount of investment while the Avondale facility had received very little.
· Whether a breakdown of the usage figures included in the Stockport Leisure Strategy Consultation could be broken down further into single use and group bookings; and whether the Executive Councillor (Leisure) had visited the Avondale centre since the decision not to close the facility had been made.
The Executive Councillor (Leisure) advised that it would be difficult to disaggregate the usage figures due the method of collection for these figures. He further reported that he had recently visited the Avondale facility and had compiled a list of works that needed to be completed.
· Whether a consultation with users of leisure facilities in Stockport should have formed part of the shaping of the Stockport Leisure Strategy Consultation; and if the questionnaire being used to consult people was sufficient.
The Executive Councillor (Customer Focus) replied that it was not feasible or practical to consult on the on the consultation itself. In addition, it was stated that there was opportunity for residents and users to express their views on the consultation questionnaire.