Agenda item

Closure of Deangate Ridge Golf Course

Minutes:

Background:

 

The Cabinet accepted this report as urgent to enable consideration of the matter before the start of the new financial year (the next scheduled Cabinet meeting is due to take place on 10 April 2018).

 

This report provided details of the outcome of consideration of a call-in and related petitions by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 March 2018, in relation to Cabinet decisions (23/2018 and 24/2018) to approve the closure of Deangate Ridge Golf Course and associated golf facilities on the basis of ongoing substantial financial loss, which is unsustainable, on 31 March 2018 and to instruct officers to begin detailed planning for consultation and development of a new sports centre for the Hoo Peninsula.

 

The comments of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee were set out in Annex 3 to the report.

 

Councillor Doe stated that the Cabinet had been notified of an expression of interest to provide the facilities at Deangate Ridge and that this would be subject to consideration as required by the Localism Act 2011. He also stated that closure of the facilities should be put back to 14 April 2018 to allow for end of year tournaments to be completed.

 

Councillor Filmer asked a number of questions regarding the decision to close the facilities to which Councillor Doe replied, including: the process for the consideration of the expression of interest; whether closure of the facilities should be delayed pending this consideration and; consultation on the closure of the facilities.

 

An undertaking was given that no demolition works would be undertaken whilst the expression of interest was being considered.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

46/2018

The Cabinet, taking into account the comments of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the campaigners, confirmed decision no. 23/2018 to approve the closure of Deangate Ridge Golf Course and associated golf facilities on the basis of ongoing substantial financial loss, which is unsustainable, and that the last day of operation will be on 14 April 2018 to enable end of year tournaments to be completed.

Note: In accordance with Council Rule 12.6, Councillor Filmer requested that his vote against decision 46/2018 be recorded in the record of decisions.

47/2018

The Cabinet, taking into account the comments of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the campaigners, confirmed decision no. 24/2018 to instruct officers to begin detailed planning for consultation and development of a new sports centre for the Hoo Peninsula.

Note: In accordance with Council Rule 12.6, Councillor Filmer requested that his vote against decision 47/2018 be recorded in the record of decisions.

48/2018

The Cabinet instructed officers to liaise with golf club officials to ensure memorials on the course are dealt with sensitively, taking into account the wishes of families.

Note: In accordance with Council Rule 12.6, Councillor Filmer requested that his abstention in respect of decision 48/2018 be recorded in the record of decisions.

49/2018

The Cabinet instructed officers to consider the expression of interest submitted by the Deangate Community Partnership and Mytime Active under the Community Right to Challenge (Localism Act 2011) to provide sports, leisure, and wellbeing facilities and activities at Deangate Ridge Golf and Sports Complex and to submit a report back to Cabinet to determine the application.

 

Reasons:

 

Currently, there is a need for an annual Council subsidy to operate the facility against a backdrop of a decline in the number of golf participants. On this basis, it is not possible to project a time when the centre will be self-sustaining.

 

It is the Council’s intention to provide a modern sports centre for the Hoo Peninsula, which reflects the needs of present and future residents.

 

The Council wishes to ensure that memorials are dealt with sensitively.

 

The Council is required to consider a community right to challenge in accordance with the relevant legislation and statutory guidance.

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: