Agenda item
Westland Leisure Complex
- Meeting of South Somerset District Council, Tuesday 13th October 2015 6.30 pm (Item 56.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 56.
Decision:
RESOLVED: |
That Council agreed: |
|
|
1. |
To note the report and supporting confidential appendices underpinning the considerations and decisions taken by the District Executive on 1st October 2015. |
|
2. |
To approve a 30 year £1,865,046 Internal Loan at 2.96% interest for use towards refurbishment of the Westland Leisure Complex. |
Reason: |
To approve a 30 year internal loan towards the costs of refurbishing the Westlands Sports and Leisure Complex in the event SSDC is able to negotiate and secure satisfactory terms with Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland and other funding partners to take over the management and future operation of the Complex. |
(Voting: 37 in favour, 0 against, 17 abstentions)
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture introduced the report and reminded Members that it had been presented at four committee meetings where Councillors had opportunity to ask questions of officers. She noted that Members were debating the recommendation to approve a loan of £1,865,046 and they should not refer to any of the information contained in the confidential papers. She also advised that the owners of the site, Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland, had been approached regarding the dividing of the sports facilities from the leisure centre but they were not supportive of this proposal.
The Assistant Director (Finance and Corporate Services) provided Members with a power point presentation of the financial implications of the proposed loan, financing and future ongoing operating costs to the Council of taking on the Westland Leisure Complex.
The Arts and Entertainment Manager advised that there were certain events which could not be held at the Octagon Theatre like conferences and flat floor events which could be held at the Westland Leisure Complex. It would also allow a larger public audience to attend some comedy and live music events which were currently held at the Octagon.
The Assistant Director (Health and Well-Being) explained the proposed ticket levy to raise funding towards the Westland Leisure Complex as an agreement made between the artist and the venue.
During a lengthy debate, varying views were expressed. The majority of Members were in support of the proposal to take over the future management and operation of the sporting facilities at the Westland Leisure Complex but some expressed reserve at taking on the leisure facilities. Their comments included:-
· We are one of the largest district councils in the country and we deserve a county facility for the area.
· To support the future of the complex, a Friends of Westlands Sport Club could be set up.
· Support the take-over of the sporting facilities but concerned that taking on the leisure complex could put the Octagon Theatre at risk.
· There is not a realistic business case for the entertainment complex.
· The population in Yeovil is growing and both older and younger people need access to sporting and leisure facilities.
· The complex will need an excellent management team and they should be incentivised to make it profitable.
The site is a hub of sustainability with allotments and a cycle path.
· This is not just a facility for Yeovil as people travel across the district to use it.
· Reservation that there is no 5 years business plan to demonstrate a break-even or profit during this period.
· There are risks in taking on this facility but we will monitor and manage them as the project progresses.
Councillor Derek Yeomans asked that his concerns that estimates for the work on the leisure complex could rise and the implications of additional staff to operate a hospitality event be minuted.
At the conclusion of the debate, a named vote was requested by more than 10 Members present. The named vote was taken as follows:-
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
CLARE APARICIO PAUL
|
|
|
X |
JASON BAKER
|
X |
|
|
CATHY BAKEWELL
|
X |
|
|
MARCUS BARRETT
|
_ |
_ |
_ |
MIKE BEECH
|
|
|
X |
MIKE BEST
|
X |
|
|
NEIL BLOOMFIELD
|
|
|
X |
AMANDA BROOM
|
X |
|
|
DAVE BULMER
|
X |
|
|
TONY CAPOZZOLI
|
X |
|
|
JOHN CLARK
|
X |
|
|
NICK COLBERT
|
|
|
X |
ADAM DANCE
|
X |
|
|
GYE DIBBEN
|
X |
|
|
SARAH DYKE BRACHER
|
X |
|
|
JOHN FIELD
|
X |
|
|
NIGEL GAGE
|
X |
|
|
CAROL GOODALL
|
X |
|
|
ANNA GROSKOP
|
_ |
_ |
_ |
PETER GUBBINS
|
X |
|
|
HENRY HOBHOUSE
|
X |
|
|
KAYSAR HUSSEIN
|
X |
|
|
TIM INGLEFIELD
|
|
|
X |
VAL KEITCH
|
X |
|
|
ANDY KENDALL
|
X |
|
|
JENNY KENTON
|
_ |
_ |
_ |
MICHAEL LEWIS
|
|
|
X |
SARAH LINDSAY
|
X |
|
|
MIKE LOCK
|
X |
|
|
TONY LOCK
|
X |
|
|
PAUL MAXWELL
|
X |
|
|
SAM MCALLISTER
|
X |
|
|
GRAHAM MIDDLETON
|
|
|
X |
DAVID NORRIS
|
|
|
X |
GRAHAM OAKES
|
X |
|
|
SUE OSBORNE
|
|
|
X |
TIFFANY OSBORNE
|
|
|
X |
STEPHEN PAGE
|
_ |
_ |
_ |
RIC PALLISTER
|
X |
|
|
SHANE PLEDGER
|
|
|
X |
CRISPIN RAIKES
|
X |
|
|
WES READ
|
X |
|
|
DAVID RECARDO
|
X |
|
|
JO ROUNDELL GREENE
|
X |
|
|
DEAN RUDDLE
|
_ |
_ |
_ |
SYLVIA SEAL
|
X |
|
|
GINA SEATON
|
X |
|
|
PETER SEIB
|
X |
|
|
GARRY SHORTLAND
|
X |
|
|
ANGIE SINGLETON
|
X |
|
|
ALAN SMITH
|
X |
|
|
SUE STEELE
|
|
|
X |
ROB STICKLAND
|
X |
|
|
ANDREW TURPIN
|
X |
|
|
LINDA VIJEH
|
_ |
_ |
_ |
MARTIN WALE
|
|
|
X |
WILLIAM WALLACE
|
|
|
X |
NICK WEEKS
|
|
|
X |
COLIN WINDER
|
|
|
X |
DEREK YEOMANS
|
|
|
X |
Totals |
37 |
0 |
17 |
RESOLVED: |
That Council agreed: |
|
|
1. |
To note the report and supporting confidential appendices underpinning the considerations and decisions taken by the District Executive on 1st October 2015. |
|
2. |
To approve a 30 year £1,865,046 Internal Loan at 2.96% interest for use towards refurbishment of the Westland Leisure Complex. |
Reason: |
To approve a 30 year internal loan towards the costs of refurbishing the Westlands Sports and Leisure Complex in the event SSDC is able to negotiate and secure satisfactory terms with Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland and other funding partners to take over the management and future operation of the Complex. |
(Voting: 37 in favour, 0 against, 17 abstentions)
Supporting documents:
- 7 WLC Council Report - V0.3 - 5 Oct - 2015, item 56. PDF 295 KB
- 7 WLC Appendix 1 - DX Report - 1Oct15, item 56. PDF 537 KB
- 7 WLC Appendix 3 Slide Presentation, item 56. PDF 691 KB
- Restricted enclosure View the reasons why document 56./4 is restricted
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