Scrapped plans for new pool and leisure centre in Bradford 'called in' to be reconsidered
Last month Bradford Council’s Reform led Executive decided to scrap long standing plans for a new facility at Squire Lane due to the proposed costs.
A DECISION to scrap plans for a new pool and leisure centre is “a huge mistake that will take Bradford years to recover from” – it has been claimed.
Last month Bradford Council’s Reform led Executive decided to scrap long standing plans for a new facility at Squire Lane due to the proposed costs.
The decision will mean the Bradford West constituency will lose out on a £20m Government grant set aside for the project.
It will also mean £5m already spent on the project is lost.
But the Executive decided that with the overall costs of the centre estimated at over £32m, it was not a scheme they felt the authority should financially support.
Now the Chair of a Council scrutiny committee has “called in” the decision – giving a chance for Councillors of all parties to have their say on the plans, and decide whether the decision needs to be re-visited.
Scrapping the centre would leave Bradford West as the only constituency in the Bradford District without a Council run pool.
The call in has been made by Chair of the Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, Labour Councillor Rizwana Jamil.
The issue will go before the Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday evening. A report to the committee gives Cllr Jamil’s reason for the call in.
It says: “The Council has already committed substantial resources to this project (£4.9m in capital investment) that will have to be written off if it is terminated.
“This will be a shocking waste of taxpayer money.
“The ongoing revenue costs of the proposed facility are already factored into the Council’s MTFS (medium term financial strategy).
“Cancellation will require the Council to return the LRF £20m grant, a huge loss of investment in our area.
“Doing so nwill also incur significant reputational costs for the Council in relation to our standing with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
“There is no guarantee that we will get this opportunity again for the foreseeable future. Refusing to continue with this project will leave the Council reliant on our existing ageing leisure centres – a short-term saving that will therefore not avoid longer-term costs.
“Plus, those costs will, of course, be much higher later on anyway, representing another huge opportunity cost and waste of taxpayer money.
“This project has all the necessary consents and construction arrangements lined up – pulling the plug at this last-minute stage is a huge mistake that will take years to recover from.
“If Bradford Council is serious about reducing health inequalities, then investment must be targeted where need is greatest.
“Bradford West should not continue to be disadvantaged by a lack of leisure infrastructure while other parts of the District benefit from greater access to swimming and fitness facilities.”
The call in questions “whether the Executive has given sufficient weight to its public health responsibilities before the decision is implemented.”
The Committee meets at 5pm in City Hall.