Greeting to all who signed the petition. It is with regret; I want to inform you that this will be my last communication regarding the leisure pool facilities and the councils plan to consolidate all leisure facilities into a single complex. The vote has been completed, and the plan is to close Bell's, Dewar's and the Leisure pool after the single complex has been completed. I will also close the petition as it has not succeeded.
While I personally believe that the leisure pool should stay in its current building, along with Dewar's and Bell's, this is not what the vote was about. There was no option for the pool to remain. Councillors seemed to already have decided that the revised PH20 (PH twenty - Perth twenty sports catered for) would be adopted in some fashion. This is demonstrated in that the vote was only for the motion or one of its subsequent revisions not between whether we should keep the existing buildings or adopt a revised PH20 proposal.
Looking at the wording of the motion that was adopted (Motion by Councillors G Laing and E Drysdale Motion section 3(ii)), there is only a suggestion that a separate leisure pool should be included. The wording could have been stronger with the revisions (First Amendment by Councillors J Duff and A Chan section 3 (iii)) suggested by the conservative party members where a curling rink and a separate leisure pool would have been costed and included with any future plan.
You can find the breakdown of the vote at the bottom of this email. Pay particular attention to the councillors who did not want to Vote to choose the amendment which would have ensured a leisure pool and curling rink was included and fully costed.
I was also surprised that nobody asked what was going to happen to the current buildings Bells and the Leisure pool when they are replaced. These buildings I believe are currently or will soon be classed as Grade B listed by Scottish Historical. This means whether we have a new single complex or not the existing buildings external appearance will have to be preserved and the building cannot be knocked down. I would fear that we would have another City Hall or a St Pauls where the buildings lie empty for years as they are not suitable for office space or anything else.
When Councillor Colin Stewart asked why these buildings were not updated with insulation and renewables like solar which would have offset the rising energy costs, his question was not answered satisfactorily in my opinion. It also seems surprising that nobody has thought to contact the Major energy supplier whose main office is situated in Perth (SSE) to enquire about how to improve energy efficiency of these buildings. I would imagine that SSE would jump at the chance if they could include their company name in the building for example The Bell's SSE sports centre or The Dewar's SSE centre for international Curling.
It feels like the whole proposal was pushed through with very little notice to the residents of Perth. My impression with the plan to consolidate the facilities is more about reducing staffing levels rather than improving Perth's Leisure and sporting competition facilities. While I understand operational costs are an important issue now, I feel the current administration lacks the vision of where I and I am sure you, would like Perth to be, within the local, national, and international stage. I am sure that this will be a decision that the city of Perth will come to regret.
Here are the details and statistics of the council vote with regards to the Leisure pool and revised PH20 proposal.
TRANSFORMATION REVIEW OF LEISURE ASSETS
There was submitted a report by Head of Culture and Communities Services (24/19) summarising the findings of a transformation review of leisure assets and making 10 recommendations to maintain accessible, affordable, and sustainable leisure provision for communities over the next 5-10 years.
Mr Vincent Bryson (CEO, Scottish Curling) and Mr Peter Loudon (Vice-Chairman, Perth Curling 1988 and Chairman Perth Masters Bonspiel) made their deputations and answered Members’ questions.
Ms Eve Thomson (President of Perth City Swim Club) and Mr Stuart Eadington (local resident) made their deputations and answered Members’ questions.
THERE FOLLOWED A RECESS AND THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 4.40PM.
Motion by Councillors G Laing and E Drysdale
Council:
1. Notes the Review findings set out in section 5 of the report. In relation to paragraph 5.3, considers that the information on past and current usage as well as future trends does not provide sufficient evidence to support the removal of ice from the mix of activities available at PH20.
2. Approves the recommendations set out in section 6 of the report, subject to deletion of recommendation 2 and replacement with:
(i) Further work to be undertaken on Curling usage, market trends, and affordability factors, including current curling demand and usage for 2023/24 and consideration of growth opportunities for curling;
(ii) Options for the sustainable provision of ice at PH20 being included within the transition plan and rescoping exercise referred to in recommendation 3 in section 6.1.
(iii) Officers be instructed to include an ice rink component within a fully costed PH2O proposal to be brought to Council in August 2024.
3. Approves the next steps set out in section 7 of the report and additionally asks that:
(i) The Council’s contract for services with Live Active Leisure maintains family-friendly leisure swimming as a core service requirement, as an activity which enables a broad section of the local population to be healthy and active.
(ii) The design of a new swimming pool for Perth, as part of the rescoped PH2O project, reflects this requirement and will allow a family-friendly leisure swim offering alongside fitness and lesson swims.
First Amendment by Councillors J Duff and A Chan
In accordance with the Motion but that recommendation 2 be added to as follows:
2 (iii) Officers be instructed to include an ice rink component within a fully costed PH2O proposal to be brought to Council in August 2024, including costed options which would allow Perth to host curling competitions and events up to and including national and international level.
2(iv) A User Reference Group, including key representatives of the clubs and organisations involved, should be established as soon as possible to assist the Council in its high-level design of a revised PH2O sports complex.
That Recommendation 3 be added to as follows:
3 (iii) Officers be requested to include a costed option for a separate family friendly leisure pool area to complement the swimming pool facilities in a revised PH2O proposal.
Second Amendment by Bailie A Bailey and Councillor B Leishman
In accordance with the Motion but with recommendation 3 to be added to as follows:
3 (iii) Officers be requested to include a costed option for a separate family friendly leisure pool area to complement the swimming pool facilities in a revised PH2O proposal.
THERE FOLLOWED A SHORT RECESS AND THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 5.13PM.
In terms of Standing Order 21.6, a roll call vote was taken.
12 Members voted for the First Amendment as follows:
Councillors K Allan, H Anderson, B Brawn, A Chan, J Duff, A Forbes, N Freshwater, D Illingworth, I James, N Khogali, C Shiers and F Smith.
6 Members voted for the Second Amendment as follows:
Provost X McDade, Bailies A Bailey and R Brock, Councillors D Cuthbert, B Leishman and W Robertson.
20 Members abstained as follows:
Depute Provost A Parrott, Bailie M Williamson, Councillors L Barrett, P Barrett, S Carr, S Donaldson, E Drysdale, M Frampton, K Harvey, G Laing, I MacPherson, I Massie, S McCole, T McEwan, C McLaren, J Rebbeck, C Stewart, G Stewart, R Watters and J Welch.
The First Amendment was carried and became the substantive Amendment which was then put against the Motion.
In terms of Standing Order 21.6 a roll call vote was taken.
23 Members voted for the Motion as follows:
Provost X McDade, Depute Provost A Parrott, Bailies R Brock, C McLaren and M Williamson, Councillors L Barrett, P Barrett, S Carr, D Cuthbert, S Donaldson, E Drysdale, M Frampton, K Harvey, G Laing, I MacPherson, I Massie, S McCole, T McEwan, J Rebbeck, W Robertson, G Stewart, R Watters and J Welch.
15 Members voted for the Amendment as follows:
Bailie A Bailey, Councillors K Allan, H Anderson, B Brawn, A Chan, J Duff, A Forbes, N Freshwater, D Illingworth, I James, N Khogali, B Leishman, C Shiers, F Smith and C Stewart.
Resolved:
In accordance with the Motion.
If you feel that the plan to get rid of the current pool once the PH20 complex has been completed is unacceptable please contact your local councillor to express how you feel.
Sincerely
David Thomson