Agenda item

Council received a report to set out the implications to the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) arising from the move to an Alternative Delivery Model for Tourism, Leisure, Culture and Youth services.

The process was clarified by the Monitoring Officer, who explained that there had been an opportunity to call-in the decision made by Cabinet on 29^th January 2018.  However, coming before Council today provided the opportunity to discuss and debate.

The Chairman welcomed officers and consultants from Anthony Collins.

The opposition opposed the ADM and preferred the transform in-house model, stating concerns that the ADM is a tax avoidance model, and the borrowing around the model.  If the model fails, the responsibility would fall to the Council, and therefore tax payers. Councillor Batrouni referred to recent examples where such models had failed dramatically.

It was agreed that should the ADM go ahead that an opposition member would be on the Board.

Assurance was sought that the costs to our secondary schools, in terms of the money they are expected to pay to leisure centres for the provision of services, would not increase above the rate of inflation.

Assurance was sought that links with the health authority, and the public services element of leisure centres would be maintained, with no increasing costs for rehabilitation referrals.

Councillor Watts raised concerns that certain demographics were being missed, and requested detail surrounding Monmouth Pool regarding the ownership of the asset and debt.  It was confirmed that the asset base would remain under ownership of the Council, and the organisation would not hold any debt.

Councillor Pratt expressed her support for the model, noting the benefits of the ADM for the residents of Llanelly Hill.

The Cabinet Member for Governance confirmed that the relationship between the ADM and schools would be protected, as had been agreed at cabinet 29^th January 2018.  He added that governance arrangements would need to be satisfactory before the ADM would go ahead.

The Chief Executive explained to members that approving the report would enable officers to continue and come forward with a further report for Full Council decision of their expectations for a new organisation. 

Council resolved to agree the recommendations:

To agree that £155,000 be drawn from the priority investment reserve to fund ‘start-up activity for the Alternative Delivery Model.

To recognise the need to make provision within the MTFP as part of the budget setting process for the next 5 year period of £388,000, arising from the decision to move Tourism, Leisure, Culture and Youth services into a newly established Alternative Delivery Model.