Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing)

The report sets out proposals to transfer responsibility for the management of Werneth and Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centres to Werneth High School and Cheadle Hulme High School respectively, in line with previously agreed proposals regarding leisure facilities.

The Executive is invited to agree to:-

·         appropriateWerneth Recreation Centre from the Reform and Governance portfolio to the Education portfolio.

·         transfer responsibility for the operation of Werneth Recreation Centre from Life Leisure to Werneth School.

·         grant a co-terminus lease in respect of Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centre to Cheadle Hulme High School.

·         transfer responsibility for the operation of the Recreation Centre from Life Leisure to Cheadle Hulme.

·         prepare appropriate documentation governing the terms and conditions by which the facilities will be managed and public use will be safeguarded.

Officer contact: Peter Ashworth, 0161 474 2392, peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a proposal to transfer management of two recreation centres on the sites of Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High School to the respective schools.

RESOLVED – That the following be approved:-

    (i)        the  appropriation of Werneth Recreation Centre from the Reform & Governance portfolio to the Education portfolio;

  (ii)        the transfer of responsibility for the operation of Werneth Recreation Centre from Life Leisure to Werneth School;

 (iii)        the granting of a co-terminus lease in respect of Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centre to Cheadle Hulme High School;

 (iv)        the transfer of responsibility for the operation of Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centre from Life Leisure to Cheadle Hulme High School;

  (v)        the preparation of appropriate documentation governing the terms and conditions by which the facilities will be managed and public use will be safeguarded.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report details proposals to transfer Cheadle Hulme and Werneth Recreation Centres to Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High Schools respectively in line with the provisions of the final Business Case for the Investing in Stockport: Leisure Facilities project which was agreed by the Executive in February 2015.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 19 July 2016.

Officer Contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to transfer Cheadle Hulme and Werneth Recreation Centres to Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High Schools respectively in line with the provisions of the final Business Case for the Investing in Stockport: Leisure Facilities project which was agreed by the Executive in February 2015.

Linda Magrath (Headteacher of Cheadle Hulme High School) also attended the meeting and explained how the Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centre would operate under the stewardship of Cheadle Hulme High School.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members welcomed the assurance that public access to the facilities would be maintained following any transfer which would include access for leisure key holders.

·         A discussion took place in relation to pricing structures and the hours of operation of the facility.

·         Further work was being undertaken in respect of the implications for the revenue stream for the Council currently provided for by the photovoltaic panels installed at the facility.

RESOLVED – That the Executive be recommended to grant a co-terminus lease in respect of Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centre to Cheadle Hulme High School and transfer responsibility for the operation of the Recreation Centre from Life Leisure to Cheadle Hulme High School subject to the preparation of appropriate documentation governing the terms and conditions by which the facilities will be managed and public use would be safeguarded.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report details proposals to transfer Cheadle Hulme and Werneth Recreation Centres to Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High Schools respectively in line with the provisions of the final Business Case for the Investing in Stockport: Leisure Facilities project which was agreed by the Executive in February 2015.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 19 July 2016.

Officer Contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to transfer Cheadle Hulme and Werneth Recreation Centres to Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High Schools respectively in line with the provisions of the final Business Case for the Investing in Stockport: Leisure Facilities project which was agreed by the Executive in February 2015.

RESOLVED – That the Executive be recommended to give approval to the appropriation of the Werneth Recreation Centre from the Reform & Governance portfolio to the Education portfolio and the transfer of the responsibility for the operation of Werneth Recreation Centre from Life Leisure to Werneth School.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report details proposals to transfer Cheadle Hulme and Werneth Recreation Centres to Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High Schools respectively in line with the provisions of the final Business Case for the Investing in Stockport: Leisure Facilities project which was agreed by the Executive in February 2015.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested on the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 19 July 2016.

Officer Contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to transfer Cheadle Hulme and Werneth Recreation Centres to Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High Schools respectively, in line with the provisions of the final Business Case for the Investing in Stockport: Leisure Facilities which had been agreed by the Executive Meeting in February 2015.

The report highlighted that there was a risk that the schools, as the proposed new operators of the Recreation Centres, could seek to reduce public access. The risk was regarded as marginal given the income generated from public use. However, it was proposed that the risk was mitigated by appropriate safeguards in the legal documentation underpinning the transfers, including a joint approach to be taken by the Council and the school in the event of underperformance of the public element of the facility.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Under the terms of the proposed transfer of Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centre to Cheadle Hulme High School, there would be an obligation to continue to provide public access to the facility. The same hours of operation, and fees and charges would remain as at present, and the use of the Leisure Key system would continue. The same would apply at Werneth Recreation Centre and at Hazel Grove Recreation Centre which had previously transferred to Hazel Grove High School under a similar arrangement.

·         The provisional agreement with Cheadle Hulme High School referred to public access to the facility being maintained for over one hundred years.

·         Members requested Officers to note that in taking forward negotiations with Cheadle Hulme High School there was scope for significantly reducing the actual level of contribution by the Council through negotiation of a range of options relating to ownership and income benefits derived from the Council’s solar panels at Cheadle Hulme Recreation Centre.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the detailed proposals to be submitted to the Executive Meeting regarding the proposed transfer of Cheadle Hulme and Werneth Recreation Centres to Cheadle Hulme High School and Werneth High School respectively, subject to public access to the facilities being maintained.