Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Street Scene

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Street Scene which provided an update on the recent changes in the management of Bootle Golf Course and the proposed management arrangements by the Council on an interim basis.

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the course be maintained by the Council at a basic playable standard until a further decision is made on longer-term arrangements;

(2)       the Fees and Charges be  maintained at the existing rates and the Director of Street Scene in consultation with the Cabinet Member  Children, Schools, Families and Leisure be given delegated powers to adjust the fees and charges if necessary, to respond to market forces;

(3)       it be noted that there is no budget to accommodate the forecast potential financial shortfall which might result from the interim management arrangements.  If this shortfall cannot be contained within the overall Landscape Services budget, then any shortfall would need to be met by the use of one-off reserves; and

(4)       it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but had not been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.  Consequently, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) had been consulted under Rule 26 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by the Cabinet as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan because formal arrangements for management of the golf course, the budget for its operation, and the fees and charges which are to be applied, need to be agreed urgently to enable the course to continue to operate.The item was not included on the Forward Plan because the need for the report and accompanying decisions is a result of the liquidation of the previous lessee, and this was not known when the Forward Plan was published.

Reasons for Decisions:

To continue the interim provision of a golf course in Bootle for the local community whilst trying to minimise the costs for the Council.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The only other immediate option would be to close the facility on a temporary basis, which would carry the risk of damage and abuse to the unsecured site, loss of members / players, reputational loss to the Council, and a significant loss of potential income.  The Council’s land management responsibilities and therefore potential liabilities would remain.  Longer-term options are being assessed and would be presented to Cabinet for consideration in due course.