This Council notes the strength of feeling of many residents in the M41 area regarding the proposed closure of George H Carnall Leisure Centre in Davyhulme.

Council recognises that:

•   Leisure centres are a vital tool in improving the health and wellbeing of residents

•  George Carnall is a valued community facility in the Davyhulme area

•  This Centre provides a wide range of services many of which are not routinely available at other leisure centres in Trafford

•  Urmston Leisure Centre has limited physical scope for expansion on a compact and already well-used site

•  Consultation to date has been extremely poor with many residents complaining of a lack of information and open dialogue with Trafford Leisure CIC

Council therefore makes clear its opposition to the proposed closure of George H Carnall Leisure Centre and undertakes to revisit this proposal with Trafford Leisure CIC, with a view to keeping the facility open.

(Note: Councillor Lamb declared a personal interest in this item, being a member of the Trafford Leisure Trust Company Board and remained in the meeting during consideration of the matter.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes the strength of feeling of many residents in the M41 area regarding the proposed closure of George H Carnall Leisure Centre in Davyhulme.

Council recognises that:

•   Leisure centres are a vital tool in improving the health and wellbeing of residents

•  George Carnall is a valued community facility in the Davyhulme area

•  This Centre provides a wide range of services many of which are not routinely available at other leisure centres in Trafford

•  Urmston Leisure Centre has limited physical scope for expansion on a compact and already well-used site

•  Consultation to date has been extremely poor with many residents complaining of a lack of information and open dialogue with Trafford Leisure CIC

Council therefore makes clear its opposition to the proposed closure of George H Carnall Leisure Centre and undertakes to revisit this proposal with Trafford Leisure CIC, with a view to keeping the facility open.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes the strength of feeling of many residents in the M41 area regarding the proposed closure of George H Carnall Leisure Centre in Davyhulme.

Council recognises that:

•   Leisure centres are a vital, but not the only, tool in improving the health and wellbeing of residents;

•   George H Carnall is a valued community facility in the Davyhulme area;

•   This centre provides a wide range of activities, some of which are not presently available at other leisure centres in Trafford, but that needs to be considered in the context of the future sustainability of accessible, modern facilities for residents of Davyhulme, Urmston and Flixton;

•   Urmston Leisure Centre, although located on a compact site, has been identified for and is able to accommodate expansion. This is why Trafford Leisure have proposed a significant investment at Urmston with many of the activities at George H Carnall being relocated there or to other local premises. The Urmston site also has wet side facilities which are important to the future sustainability of the centre, however;

•   Users have complained about a lack of information and open dialogue with Trafford Leisure about the closure and agree that this aspect should be re-visited.

Council therefore acknowledges the concerns expressed by users of George H Carnall  and undertakes to continue the discussion with a view to ensuring a solution is brought forward that provides all residents of Davyhulme, Flixton and Urmston with accessible, modern and fit for purpose local leisure provision.”

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared carried.

It was moved and seconded as a second amendment that:

“This Council notes the strength of feeling of many residents in the M41 area regarding the proposed closure of George H Carnall Leisure Centre in Davyhulme.

Council recognises that:

•   Leisure centres are a vital, but not the only, tool in improving the health and wellbeing of residents;

•   George H Carnall is a valued community facility in the Davyhulme area;

•   This centre provides a wide range of activities, some of which are not presently available at other leisure centres in Trafford, but that needs to be considered in the context of the future sustainability of accessible, modern facilities for residents of Davyhulme, Urmston and Flixton;

•   Urmston Leisure Centre, although located on a compact site, has been identified for and is able to accommodate expansion. This is why Trafford Leisure have proposed a significant investment at Urmston with many of the activities at George H Carnall being relocated there or to other local premises. The Urmston site also has wet side facilities which are important to the future sustainability of the centre, however;

•   Users have complained about a lack of information and open dialogue with Trafford Leisure about the closure and agree that this aspect should be re-visited.

Council therefore acknowledges the concerns expressed by users of George H Carnall  and undertakes to continue the discussion with a view to ensuring a solution is brought forward that provides all residents of Davyhulme, Flixton and Urmston with accessible, modern and fit for purpose local leisure provision; and

That many of these modern facilities should be provided at George H Carnall Leisure Centre where there is room for the extra modernised facilities.”

(Note: During the debate on the second amendment, the time being 8.45 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the length of speeches would be restricted to 1 minute per speaker.)

Following further speeches, the second amendment was put to the vote and in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5 a recorded vote was called for. This resulted as follows:

Those in favour of the Motion: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Baugh, Bennett, Bowker, Brotherton, Carter, Cordingley, Duffield, Fishwick, Gratrix, Lloyd, O’Sullivan, Ross, Stennett, Taylor, Walsh, A. Western, Whyte and Wright.

Those against the Motion: Councillors S.A. Anstee, S.K. Anstee, Dr. Barclay, Boyes, Mrs. Bruer-Morris, Bunting, Butt, Cawdrey, Chilton, Cornes, Mrs. Dixon, Mrs. Evans,  N. Evans, Mrs. Haddad, Holden, Hopps, Hyman, Lally, Lamb, Mitchell, Myers, Mrs. Reilly, Rigby, Sephton, Sharp, Shaw, Smith, Mrs. Ward, Whetton, Williams and M. Young.

With the result of the vote being 20 in favour and 31 against, with 0 abstentions, the second amendment was declared lost.

The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes the strength of feeling of many residents in the M41 area regarding the proposed closure of George H Carnall Leisure Centre in Davyhulme.

Council recognises that:

•   Leisure centres are a vital, but not the only, tool in improving the health and wellbeing of residents;

•   George H Carnall is a valued community facility in the Davyhulme area;

•   This centre provides a wide range of activities, some of which are not presently available at other leisure centres in Trafford, but that needs to be considered in the context of the future sustainability of accessible, modern facilities for residents of Davyhulme, Urmston and Flixton;

•   Urmston Leisure Centre, although located on a compact site, has been identified for and is able to accommodate expansion. This is why Trafford Leisure have proposed a significant investment at Urmston with many of the activities at George H Carnall being relocated there or to other local premises. The Urmston site also has wet side facilities which are important to the future sustainability of the centre, however;

•   Users have complained about a lack of information and open dialogue with Trafford Leisure about the closure and agree that this aspect should be re-visited.

Council therefore acknowledges the concerns expressed by users of George H Carnall  and undertakes to continue the discussion with a view to ensuring a solution is brought forward that provides all residents of Davyhulme, Flixton and Urmston with accessible, modern and fit for purpose local leisure provision.

(Note: Prior to the debate on the next item of business, the time being 8.48 p.m., the Mayor indicated that for the remainder of the meeting the length of speeches would be restricted to 1 minute per speaker.)