This is an opportunity for Members of Council to ask the Mayor, Members of the Executive or the Chairman of any Committee or Sub-Committee a question on notice under Procedure Rule 10.2.

The Mayor reported that 2 questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2.

(a)        Councillor Freeman asked the following question for which he had given notice:

“Please can you detail to this meeting the negotiations undertaken with Elected Members of this Chamber, the Contractor, the Residents of Trafford, and User Groups, in arriving at the decision you have made to close Trafford Water Sports Centre? What assurances can you give that Sale Water Park will not now just fall into terminal decline?”

Councillor Coupe, Executive Member for Safe and Strong Communities responded by advising that the Council’s approved budget for 2013/14 included an indicative proposal to review the funding arrangements for sport and leisure as a saving option for 2014/15. Negotiations with the Contractor had progressed since March 2013, to cease the index linked subsidy for water sports provision at Sale Water Park. The subsidy represented 73% of the income generated by the centre and the agreement was to be in place until 2020.

The Executive Member explained that as negotiations progressed it became apparent that without the subsidy the current contract was not deliverable and both parties decided it would be best to terminate the contract. Based on the business case, a formal decision to terminate the contract from 31 December 2013 was made, saving the Council £1.1 million over the next 6 years.

Officers wrote on 5 November to Ward Members and opposition spokespersons to inform them of the decision and provided a confidential briefing setting out the rationale behind the decision. Staff were informed on 6 November and letters were sent to all users on 8 November, informing them of the decision and asking them to contact the Council to discuss the matter further and in some cases renegotiate their contracts.

Councillor Coupe reported that funding of £48,000 had been retained so that the Council could maintain the Water Park once the contract had terminated and the £1.1 million saving would be delivered in addition to the annual maintenance funding. The Executive Member assured the Council that it was not the end for Sale Water Park but the end of a contract that was not sustainable. Some initial inquiries from interested parties wishing to remain anonymous at the moment had been received and he was happy to talk to any group or individual interested in working with the Council to continue to offer water sports at Sale Water Park.

Commenting upon the decision making process, Councillor Freeman asked as a supplementary question how this particular decision measured up to the principle that openness, honesty and transparency should be at the heart of all local government decisions. In response, Councillor Coupe asserted that the matter was decided in accordance with Council procedures. It had been impracticable to give 28 days’ notice given the position regarding negotiations with the Contractor, since it only became evident that a formal decision would be required within this timescale and when taken it was deemed to be urgent in order to maximise savings.

(b)        Councillor Acton asked the following question for which he had given notice:

“This Council is Aware there is high levels of pollution within the Davyhulme area, within the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), around Junction 9/10 off the M60 Motorway. This fact is cause of deep concern to residents who live in this area, particularly so in light of more and more developments are planned within this location, which potentially will add to the pollution.

There are growing fears from residents that the pollution level has increased significantly in this area in recent times and residents are asking that this particular area be monitored. Therefore I would like to ask the Executive Member if he would agree to the monitoring of pollution directly within the AQMA as soon as possible, and make the findings public?”

In response to the question, Councillor Mitchell, Executive Member for Highways and Environment, informed the Council of the locations of the three automatic monitoring stations in Trafford. One measuring roadside pollution levels was located on the A56 Stretford, within the AQMA, another at Moss Park Junior School, Stretford was considered a site representative of background levels of pollution away from a major highway and a third at Wellacre Academy, Flixton has recently been installed to measure the impact of the new energy plant at Carrington.

The Executive Member recognised that recent planning applications for development in the Davyhulme area had caused some public concern regarding the potential cumulative impact on air quality. For that reason, it had been decided to commission a detailed study to assess the specific combined impact of existing and proposed developments on air quality in the Davyhulme area. The study would enable the on-going welfare of the residents of the area to be assured and assist in the Planning process so that the impact of any proposed developments can be fully assessed as well as informing developers of appropriate emission standards that must be met.

As a supplementary question, Councillor Acton sought clarification that the Council directly monitors pollutants within the AQMA. Councillor Mitchell verified that the Council continuously monitored across the 3 sites that bracketed the area and on that basis confirmed that it did.