The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management submitted a report which sought Cabinet approval to restore the funding of Guinea Gap Baths to the Council base budget when the current funding ran out at 31 March 2011. The Council Budget for 2010/11 included £150,000 to meet the cost of keeping Guinea Gap Baths open until 31 March 2011. In order to retain the Baths beyond that date the sum of £640,000 would be required to the Budget from 2011/12. This was included within the Budget projections 2011-14 report to Cabinet on 18 March 2010 (minute 356 refers).

The Leader expressed the view that this should now draw a line under the leisure aspects of the Strategic Asset Review.

An addition to the recommendation was circulated to the Cabinet, and at this point, having regard to the additional recommendations, Councillor Ian Lewis declared a personal interest by virtue of him being a board member of Leasowe Community Homes.

On a motion by Councillor Elderton, seconded by Councillor Green, it was –

Resolved – That,

(1) Cabinet requests Council, as part of its Annual Budget setting process, to add the sum of £640,000 to the Revenue Budget for 2011/12 onwards in order to meet the running costs of Guinea Gap Baths;

(2) a report be brought to the next Cabinet on the current status of the proposed transfer of Leasowe Recreation Centre to Arena Housing;

(3) despite central government cuts to grant funding, Cabinet is committed, within our current financial constraints, to putting people first when providing front line services. Therefore, free swimming at Council facilities for residents under 18 and over 60 will be extended beyond the end of the central government grant funding period and continue throughout the school summer holidays until 3 September 2010, at which time this decision will be reviewed. The Director of Technical Services is instructed to provide a report setting out the costs and benefits of this scheme.