To consider a report of the Executive Member for Culture and Leisure.

1. That approve in principle be given to the proposed transfer of the George H Carnall Leisure Centre (“GHC”) to the George Carnall Community Group (“GCCG”) as a Community Asset Transfer subject to:

              I.        Approval of full business case for the future operation of GHC by GCCG;

            II.        Completion of an agreement between the Council, Trafford Leisure Community Interest Company Limited (“Trafford Leisure”) and GCCG of the transition arrangements detailed in this report (“the Transition Agreement”);

           III.        Approval of the Secretary of State (if required) to the proposed disposal;

          IV.        A further report back to the Executive for final approval of the proposed transfer.

2. That it be agreed to fund the costs of keeping GHC open as detailed in the report during a transition period from the 1^st April to the 30^th September 2020 (“the Transition Period”) to allow for the further development of and finalisation of the proposals for the proposed Community Asset Transfer.

3. That it be formally requested that Trafford Leisure provide support to the Council and GCCG through the Transition Period, to be agreed as set out above.

4. That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems and the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy, to agree the terms of the proposed Transition Agreement.

5. That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to enter into the Transition Agreement and any other documents required to progress the proposed transfer to the point where further approval of the Executive is required in accordance with 1.IV above.

The Executive Member for Culture and Leisure submitted a report which sought approval in principle to progress with the process of a proposed Community Asset Transfer for George H. Carnall Leisure Centre, including a six month transition period from 1^st April to 30^th September 2020. The report set out details of the current position, the interest expressed by a local community group in managing the centre in the long term, the support which Trafford Leisure could offer at this stage and options for consideration. In discussing this item, Members expressed their acknowledgement of the work of the late Councillor Jane Baugh on this project in particular. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content; these principally related to the importance of a robust business plan for the centre’s operation, and the need for an approach which secured complementarity, and not competition, with the Urmston Leisure Centre.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That approval in principle be given to the proposed transfer of the George H Carnall Leisure Centre (“GHC”) to the George Carnall Community Group (“GCCG”) as a Community Asset Transfer subject to:

              I.        Approval of full business case for the future operation of GHC by GCCG;

            II.        Completion of an agreement between the Council, Trafford Leisure Community Interest Company Limited (“Trafford Leisure”) and GCCG of the transition arrangements detailed in this report (“the Transition Agreement”);

           III.        Approval of the Secretary of State (if required) to the proposed disposal;

          IV.        A further report back to the Executive for final approval of the proposed transfer.

(2)       That it be agreed to fund the costs of keeping GHC open as detailed in the report during a transition period from the 1^st April to the 30^th September 2020 (“the Transition Period”) to allow for the further development of and finalisation of the proposals for the proposed Community Asset Transfer.

(3)       That it be formally requested that Trafford Leisure provide support to the Council and GCCG through the Transition Period, to be agreed as set out above.

(4)       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems and the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy, to agree the terms of the proposed Transition Agreement.

(5)       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to enter into the Transition Agreement and any other documents required to progress the proposed transfer to the point where further approval of the Executive is required in accordance with 1.IV above.