Rossendale Council grilled by residents over Whitworth Leisure Centre closure plan

Date published: 05 July 2023

Whitworth swimming pool in Rossendale, which faces closure, should be handed to a community group, some campaigners have told a borough council meeting, where numerous questions were raised including how the closure decision was reached.

Questions included Rossendale Council’s use of privacy measures during some parts of meetings or for some written information, and how much time councillors had to take in a new report before a key vote on Whitworth Leisure Centre took place.

Councillors had one working day to consider the information, rather than the usual five, the meeting heard.

Other questions raised included the future of swimming lessons for children and schools; adult health and leisure classes.

The council leader said councillors were fully informed before they voted for the Whitworth closure at a special meeting in May.

Before the meeting, schoolboys Daley Chianca and William Cromer held a banner raising their concerns outside Rossendale Council’s offices. Dad Chris Cromer said the boys attend St Bartholomew’s School and have swimming lessons at Whitworth.

Mr Cromer said: “William learned to swim at Whitworth and his three-year-old brother is on the waiting list. I learned to swim at Whitworth. I think the closure plan is disgraceful and a big concern for the community. It’s an asset that has been used for many years but I also think the building has been neglected for decades.

“St Bartholomew’s School and other schools all take their children there for swimming. That’s going to stop.”

Last month, Rossendale Council and Rossendale Leisure Trust announced plans to close Whitworth Leisure Centre. The cost-of-living crisis, rising inflation and rising demand across all council services were factors, they said.

It came after accountancy firm Grant Thornton produced a report recommending the pool’s closure soon and risks to other council activities if action was not taken, they said.
 

Read more: Whitworth Leisure Centre to close in JulyPublished: 23 May 2023

 

 

At this month’s full Rossendale Council meeting, dozens of people from Whitworth were in the main council chamber and a reception area, where the meeting was screened. Eleven members of the public were listed to speak.

Their ideas included keeping the current Whitworth pool and leisure centre open, which is almost 50 years old. Or asking for a guarantee that a new venue will be built in or near Whitworth. Some asked about finances or information used by councillors and officers in their decisions.

Management changes

In the past, Whitworth Leisure Centre was run by the Community Leisure Association of Whitworth (CLAW). But Rossendale Leisure Trust, an arms-length organisation which operates council-owned leisure centres, took it over two years ago. Since then, circumstances have become harder, the meeting heard.

Today, other Rossendale Leisure Trust venues include Ski Rossendale, Rawtenstall’s Marl Pits leisure centre, Haslingden’s Adrenalin Centre, the Pioneer Gym at Bacup and the Whitaker Museum in Rawtenstall.

Earlier this year, the leisure trust’s management changed. Former boss Ken Masser departed and Samantha Sandford became the new chief executive. She was at the latest council meeting. She took notes but did not speak.

Labour councillor Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, explained the council’s decision and what she saw as key factors. These included rising costs and years of government cuts, totalling £35 million to Rossendale since the coalition government of 2010. The council has lost £ 4 million funding per year, she said. Then she answered public questions.

Question time

Bridget Jones was the first public speaker.

She asked if financial profit-and-loss information for the pool was available. She then said: “This community swimming pool is essential for families, for health and well-being. It helps with obesity and other issues. There are also tai-chi and fitness activities. The staff there are incredible. I think this is a rash decision about closure.”

Next was Mike Royds. He referred to the special council meeting in May, when councillors considered the Whitworth closure proposal in private and voted.

He said: “What length of time did councillors have to access the information and the report before being asked to vote on the recommendation?”

Councillor Alyson Barnes said that she understood councillors were made aware of the meeting with normal agenda timelines. She thought the time scale was five working days.

But this was later queried by Conservative Councillor David Foxcroft. He said: “The information provided about five working days is incorrect. There were not five clear working days.”

Whitworth Community First Councillor Dayne Powell said: “There was one working day before the meeting.”

Councillor Barnes replied: “If that’s what we are being told, then that’s what we’re being told. All that we can try is to ensure that things are adhered to in future. I want to state that.”

Kimberley Ashworth, from the Women In Whitworth project, said: “Support for many females will not be available after July. This is extremely disappointing because this is a safe space for females.

“We ask Rossendale Leisure Trust and Rossendale Council to confirm the leisure centre will remain open until a new facility is built in Whitworth.”

But Councillor Barnes said she could not commit to that for reasons earlier explained. However, she added: “We are working with Sport England and partners to get a new facility as soon as possible. Where that [facility] will be still needs some work on.”

 

 

Alan Billingsley asked if the viability of Marl Pits and another leisure centre had been scrutinised for comparison with Whitworth pool. Was there a report? How did Grant Thornton reach its financial figure which led to the Whitworth closure recommendation?

Councillor Barnes said his spoken question was different to the written question he had submitted in advance. She said: “I’m trying to respond honestly and openly. You may not like what I’m saying but I’m trying to answer you.

“Rossendale Council and Rossendale Leisure Trust have seen 40 per cent funding cuts. They have to make efficiencies. Whitworth pool loses significant money and it does not make sense for the taxpayer. There is a significant gap between operating costs and income.

“I don’t think we should have to do this. But we are being pushed to.

“The property is in poor condition. Significant investment is needed in the building’s fabric and in mechanical and electrical aspects, and to meet future sustainability needs.

“The council receives no dedicated funding for sport and leisure facilities. That’s why this decision is being made. ”

Jo Furtado, a member of Whitworth Sport Council, asked: “Would Rossendale Leisure Trust and the council consider handing the Whitworth centre to a community group to run for the next five years or until the building falls down, whichever is sooner? ”

Councillor Barnes replied: “In principle, the council is happy to speak to properly constituted community groups. I’m conscious that an emergency group might not be constructed like that. There is a government-backed community ownership fund. There is a closing date soon but there will be future rounds.

“We would happily share the details to a group of people who would need this information to consider taking over the pool. That said, CLAW struggled and the leisure trust has struggled [with swimming pool issues].

 

 

Craig Brierley queried how the public interest was served by decisions and judgements to keep some information private rather than public. Councils can discuss things in private sessions, such as sensitive commercial information, if councillors agree in a vote.

But Mr Brierley said: “Your initial thought should be for disclosing information [publicly]. If the public interest in retaining information outweighs making it public, the tests that were applied should be made clear.

“How did officers and each and every councillor come to an informed decision to vote for a closed session, which did not fit any public interest test? I suggest you simply did what you were told and simply did not question it.”

However, Councillor Barnes disagreed and rejected the suggestion. She mentioned the Local Government Act, Freedom of Information changes, legal information and other council considerations.

She said: “We test every decision. We looked at all the circumstances and said the public interest in maintaining exemption [privacy] outweighed [public] disclosure. Exempt information formed most information in that report. Separation would have made the remainder nonsensical. There was no alternative to exemption. Councillors understood that when moving to the vote.”

Sue Nielson understood there was a 25-year lease remaining on Whitworth Leisure Centre. She added: “The building must have been deemed leasehold-worthy when the leisure trust took it over from CLAW two years ago?”

Councillor Barnes replied: “When the leisure trust took it from CLAW, it was losing money and had challenges. But there was a strategy. However, circumstances have changed, as described.”

Janet Soo from Whitworth Swimming Club said ”The club was formed 50 years ago and has taught thousands of people to swim. Lifeguards around the borough started their training at Whitworth. There’s a long waiting list for lessons. We have not been consulted about the closure.

“Government websites talk about the drive to support swimming for all children. How will Rossendale Council support this government agenda to allow swimming clubs to continue to teach children to swim?”

Councillor Barnes said 12 schools use Whitworth pool. Eight would visit other Rossendale pools while four would go to Rochdale.

She added: “The government talks about this but we don’t get the wherewithal to do so.”

 

 

Other speakers included Zoe Rose and Kim Blezard on behalf of Sandra Wood. Topics include transport costs for children going to other locations

Councillor Barnes said: “Put simply, that’s not our problem. It’s the government’s. We are struggling to provide our statutory [legally required] responsibilities. We cannot answer for school budgets being under pressure. Our budget is under pressure. Everybody’s budgets are under pressure. This is what happens when you suck money out of public services.”

She said Rossendale Council only gets a small portion of council tax – 16 pence from every £1. The rest goes to Lancashire County Council, fire and police services. She said publicly-owned leisure centres across the country are at risk of closure because of the issues. Without large interventions, many are unlikely to make it past this year, she added.

Finally, Pat Myers said: “Generally, there’s a legal requirement for primary school students to be given swimming lessons. Swimming is the only statutory sport in school PE. In 2018, the government said it was committed to ensure every child can swim. How does the council propose to meet that legal requirement?”

Councillor Barnes said: “I think the majority of schools will go to Marl Pits or Rochdale for lessons in future.”

Councillors questions

Councillors from different groups asked about Whitworth Leisure Centre during their questions session. They included Labour’s Michelle Smith, Community First’s Dayne Powell and Alan Neal, and Conservative Anne Whitehead.

Their topics included council funding cuts, an alleged lack of public consultation at Whitworth and ‘concerns about the rapid expansion of Rossendale Leisure Trust’ in recent times.

Robbie Macdonald, Local Democracy Reporting Service