To receive questions from Members of the Council to the relevant Portfolio Holders for this Scrutiny Committee. The Portfolio Holders reporting to this Scrutiny Committee are:
Councillor Bialyk* - Leader
Councillor Patrick - Portfolio Holder City Development
Councillor Vizard* - Portfolio Holder Climate and Ecological Change and Communities
Councillor Wood - Portfolio Holder Leisure Services and Physical Activity
Councillor Wright* - Portfolio Holder, Culture and City Centre Strategy
*Please note that some Portfolio Holders report to both scrutiny committees.
Advance questions from Members relating to the Portfolio Holders above should be notified to the Democratic Services Manager.
Minutes:
In accordance with Standing Order No. 20, the following questions were submitted by Councillors Wetenhall in relation to the Portfolio of Councillor Bialyk who attended the meeting. The questions were circulated at the meeting to Members of the Committee. The responses of the Leader are set out below:
Question
“School Streets action by Council
On December 17th 2024, Council passed a Motion which included the resolutions to:
"1. Call on Devon County Council to work with schools and communities to increase the number of School Streets in Exeter, where schools are willing to explore this option.
2. Provide a progress report on this activity to the ECC Transport Member Working Group in six months’ time.”
Has Exeter City Council followed up the resolution by approaching Devon County Council yet and if not, when will this be done?
Can Cllr Bialyk provide an update to this committee on any action taken in relation to contacting Devon County Council since the Motion was passed and if no action taken, when he expects Executive to consider an action?”
Response from the Leader, Councillor Bialyk
“Officers from the Council’s Live and Move team are engaged with Devon County Council sustainable transport team regarding active travel and school streets in particular. DCC maintains an active school streets application process that is open to all schools and we are aware that DCC have recently commissioned a project to support a number of Exeter Schools with Travel Plan measures. We will report back on progress and any specific school applications/projects at the next Exeter Transport Steering Group meeting.”
Supplementary Question and Response
Councillor Wetenhall asked if DCC had been formally approached in compliance with the motion and whether this had been a direct written request, by whom and when.
The Leader responded that he would request information from officers but that there was no formal channel for the council to communicate with DCC but it would be good to have one and he would seek better channels of communication for district councils to bring things to the attention of DCC.
In accordance with Standing Order No. 20, the following questions were submitted by Councillors Wetenhall in relation to the Portfolio of Councillor Wood who attended the meeting. The questions were circulated at the meeting to Members of the Committee and the responses of the Portfolio Holder are set out below:
Question
“Regarding the proposed closure of Northbrook pool, actioned at the February budget council meeting, has the administration assessed the potential legal costs of a challenge under the Equality Act or other legislation, or the risk of compensatory claims from those affected?”
Response from the Portfolio Holder for leisure services and healthy living, Councillor Wood
In June, the Executive will be asked to consider a recommendation to close the pool, based on key income and expenditure data and information gathered following public consultation. This information will be included in the report along with the comprehensive EQIA.
The council is obliged to formally consult with those affected when there is a substantive potential change to the provision of a service. This legal obligation has been met.
Supplementary Question and Response
Councillor Wetenhall asked if the Council was put at risk by the EQIA not having been carried out when the closure was proposed in February? Councillor Wood responded stating that he could not comment on the law but that a decision to close had not been made when the budget was agreed and an EQIA had been carried since.
Question
If schools that currently use Northbrook Pool for swimming are forced to transfer classes to St Sidwell's Point, can the council guarantee there will be the timetable availability for those schools, and that they can bring their own swimming teachers?
Response
The potential closure of Northbrook Swimming Pool may impact vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. The Council has taken time to consider the impact of closure on these groups and is confident that if the Council decides to close the pool, alternative provision within our other centres can be offered, providing a suitable, safe environment.
Supplementary Question and Response
Councillor Wetenhall asked if there was availability at other pools? Councillor Wood responded in the affirmative that should a decision be made to close the pool Exeter Leisure would ensure availability at St Sidwells Point of Riverside and that current terms and conditions would remain in place.
Question from Councillor Moore for Councillor Wood
“Given the Council occupies Northbrook swimming pool under a 99-year lease that commenced on 18th March 1996 and expires on 17th March 2095 - so there’s just under 70 years remaining. Why did the Council decline to commit to running the pool for the 15 years which would have released investment from funders?”
Response
Councillor Wood stated that Directors would respond outside of the meeting.
Supplementary Question and Response
In a supplementary question Councillor Moore asked given how long the lease was should the Council pursue grants and committee to the 15 years required? Councillor Wood responded stating that the capital costs and annual deficit would be available in a report to the Executive in the near future and that he couldn’t answer without knowing where all the funding would come from rather than one grant in isolation.
Other questions:
Councillor Palmer asked if schools would travel to Riverside to swim given the additional time and the cost of a coach? Councillor Wood responded stating that he had attended a schools festival and spoke to teachers and would look to mitigate the impact on schools.
Councillor Palmer asked a supplementary question was regular data received from Devon County Council on rates of deprivation in the city? The Strategic Director for Place advised the Member to put this in writing in order that it be properly researched. Councillor Mitchell asked that any responses be forwarded to all members of the Committee.