Proposed
by Councillor Cathy James and seconded by Councillor Sonia Reynolds:
The then Cabinet took the decision in
2022, following intense debate and discussion over a period of a few months, to
insource indoor leisure services from Celtic Leisure Limited by 1st April 2023.
However, the decision has now been made, without reference to scrutiny, to
defer the insourcing of Celtic Leisure to 1st April 2025 at the earliest.
Leisure
services whilst non-statutory, provide resources for residents that play a key
role in promoting health and wellbeing and therefore full attention must now be
given to address this as part of service delivery and of course noting budget
constraints. They fulfil aspects, relating particularly to prevention and early
intervention, of our duty as a Council under the Social Services and Wellbeing
Wales (2014) act; also support requirements for physical education within the
Education Act Wales (2002); as well as considerations of sustainability of
facilities and services under the Wellbeing of Future Generations act (2015).
It is therefore, incumbent on us to ensure that these services are offered in a
manner that integrates into, and meets needs identified through our statutory
services, particularly Social Services and Education. The current obesity
epidemic and the known benefits of exercise and access to countryside for those
suffering from mental health issues is also relevant to our considerations.
Unions
representing Leisure staff have called for a joint working group with Council
to consider bringing services in house and it is noted ongoing dialogue is
taking place with trade unions.
If
all Councillors are to have a clear view in relation to the decision relating
to the insourcing of Leisure Services, it is essential that the work is
undertaken to consider potential models and put together a clear and well
evidenced business case to inform the decision that needs to be taken without
further delay.
It
is therefore proposed that the Council establish a cross-party Task and Finish
group (terms and conditions to be agreed by the cross-party group), with trade
unions and other appropriate organisations as relevant stakeholders, to
explore, develop and present to Cabinet an appropriate business case to
underpin decisions relating to the future control and operation of the
Council’s Leisure Services post April 2025.
Minutes:
One Notice of Motion under Section 10 of Part 4 (Rules of Procedure) of the Council’s Constitution was received.
The then Cabinet took the decision in 2022, following intense debate and discussion over a period of a few months, to insource indoor leisure services from Celtic Leisure Limited by 1st April 2023. However, the decision has now been made, without reference to scrutiny, to defer the insourcing of Celtic Leisure to 1st April 2025 at the earliest. Leisure services whilst non-statutory, provide resources for residents that play a key role in promoting health and wellbeing and therefore full attention must now be given to address this as part of service delivery and of course noting budget constraints. They fulfil aspects, relating particularly to prevention and early intervention, of our duty as a Council under the Social Services and Wellbeing Wales (2014) act; also support requirements for physical education within the Education Act Wales (2002); as well as considerations of sustainability of facilities and services under the Wellbeing of Future Generations act (2015). It is therefore, incumbent on us to ensure that these services are offered in a manner that integrates into, and meets needs identified through our statutory services, particularly Social Services and Education. The current obesity epidemic and the known benefits of exercise and access to countryside for those suffering from mental health issues is also relevant to our considerations. Unions representing Leisure staff have called for a joint working group with Council to consider bringing services in house and it is noted ongoing dialogue is taking place with trade unions. If all Councillors are to have a clear view in relation to the decision relating to the insourcing of Leisure Services, it is essential that the work is undertaken to consider potential models and put together a clear and well evidenced business case to inform the decision that needs to be taken without further delay.
It is therefore proposed that the Council establish a cross-party Task and Finish group (terms and conditions to be agreed by the cross-party group), with trade unions and other appropriate organisations as relevant stakeholders, to explore, develop and present to Cabinet an appropriate business case to underpin decisions relating to the future control and operation of the Council’s Leisure Services post April 2025.
Proposed by Cllr Cathy James and seconded by Cllr Sonia Reynolds.
Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature Tourism and Wellbeing responded to Council. It was detailed that a Working Group is established with the Trade Unions and other key stakeholders Working Group which have met twice with the plan to bring the outline report to Cabinet and scrutiny in late summer/early autumn 2024 on the options that are available. It was felt this motion may delay the good work and progress of this groups and therefore delay this planned report back on the future of indoor leisure services. Council were reminded that the Education, Skills and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee has leisure services in its remit, and should the committee request it, they could be involved in the development of this work.
There
followed a request for a recorded vote on the recommendation contained in the
circulated report, which received the requisite support in accordance with the
requirements of Section 14.5 of Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution- Rules of
Procedure.
For
the recommendation:
Councillors:
C.Clement Williams, O Davies, S. Freeguard, C.Galsworthy, M.Harvey, C.James L.Jones. R.Jones, EV.Latham, A.Lockyer, R.Mizen, S.Paddison, S.Pursey, S.Rahaman, P.Rees, S.Rekes, S.Reynolds, G.Rice, P.Richards, S.Thomas, D.Whitelock, L.Williams, R.Wood.
Against
the recommendation:
Councillors:
A, Aubrey, T. Bowen, W. Carpenter, H.Clarke, Hayley
Davies, Heath Davies, R.Davies, N,Goldup
John, W.Griffiths, J.Hale, S.Harris, J. Henton, S.Hunt. J.Hurley. N.Jenkins. J.Jones S.Jones. C.Jordan S.Knoyle. C.Lewis, D.Lewis, A.Llewellyn, A, Lodwig, M. Peters,C.Phillips,
R.Phillips, A Richards, P.Rogers,
B.Woolford.
Abstentions:
Cllr
C James and Cllr M Crowley.
The
notice of motion was therefore NOT SUPPORTED.