Issue - items at meetings - Review of Bowling Facilties

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached)

            RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee agrees that work continues with those clubs that are able and wish to become more autonomous with greater financial independency from the council and that a report to committee is presented when there are robust proposals to take forward;

            (2) That the Committee, with full consideration to the surplus provision of bowling facilities, agrees to the closure of those facilities with the smallest membership numbers, namely, Hove Park, Dyke Road Park and Hove and Kingsway Ladies bowling facilities;

            (3) That the number of greens maintained by the council is reduced by two at British Rail Bowling Club in Preston Park, reduced by two at Hove and Kingsway, and Kingsway Ladies, and by one at Hollingbury Park by April 2013, so as to leave one Council maintained green for each club;

            (4) That the green for Kingsway Ladies is either removed in April 2014 or the responsibility and costs of its maintenance passes to Hove and Kingsway, or Kingsway Ladies, leaving one Council maintained green for either both clubs or one;

            (5) That a report is brought forward to the relevant committee in a years time to review the numbers  of players by club to assess whether there have been improvements in participation in the sport and the viability of each club;

            (6) That the Sports Development Team actively promote bowling in the city to increase participation in the sport in recognition of its importance to older people and given that many of the existing facilities still have capacity for increased use.

57.1         The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place  updating proposals for Bowling Green provision in the city. A report presented to the Committee in September 2012 had outlined the consultation which had been undertaken and the status of bowling locally and nationally and this follow up report was seeking agreement to a way forward for bowling in the city. The report also summarised the consultation carried out and the implications of the proposals for each individual club.

57.2         It was noted that Councillor Bennett had been scheduled to speak at the meeting in order to express her concerns regarding the proposed closure of Dyke Road and Hove Park Bowling clubs. Councillor Bennett had ultimately been unable to attend due to circumstances beyond her control. However Councillor Brown was a ward councilor within the same ward and was aware of the disappointment of the Dyke Road Bowling Club at their proposed closure and, also in relation to the Hove Park Bowls Club which was also proposed for closure. The club believed that parking had had a detrimental impact on the club. Councillor Brown was of the view that it might be more appropriate to allow the club a longer period in order to try and resolve these issues.

57.3    Councillor Smith concurred in that view whilst acknowledging the work that had been carried out in bringing this further report before the Committee. It was disappointing to note that notwithstanding the number of meetings that had been held and correspondence which had been generated by officers, a number of clubs had either not responded, or demonstrated a unwillingness to work co-operatively together.

57.4    Councillor Wealls queried whether the level of savings originally proposed could be achieved. The Head of city Infrastructure confirmed that the level of savings originally proposed would not now be achieved and this was because in putting forward the current recommendations consideration had been given to the need to ensure that bowling continued to be played in the city by a primarily older group. In recognition of this importance was attached to the need to maintain the sport and the location of play as far as possible. These revised proposals would have less of an impact on bowling across the city than the original proposals. The savings which would now be realizable in the longer term were set out in the report and against that backdrop it was not considered feasible to extend that time frame any further.

57.5    In answer to further questions it was confirmed that these revised proposals would reduce the risks to bowling across the city, although it was proposed that three facilities would close and the number of greens would reduce, it provided greater certainty to the remaining facilities and clubs than the initial proposals to reduce the subsidy to every club by £4,000. These proposals would allow those clubs which were able and wished to do so to move towards greater autonomy over a phased period of time.

57.6    Councillor Littman referred to the proposals in relation to Preston Park, where an accommodation acceptable to all seemed to have been reached and the greens were well maintained.

57.7    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee agrees that work continues with those clubs that are able and wish to become more autonomous with greater financial independency from the council and that a report to committee is presented when there are robust proposals to take forward;

            (2) That the Committee, with full consideration to the surplus provision of bowling facilities, agrees to the closure of those facilities with the smallest membership numbers, namely, Hove Park, Dyke Road Park and Hove and Kingsway Ladies bowling facilities;

            (3) That the number of greens maintained by the council is reduced by two at British Rail Bowling Club in Preston Park, reduced by two at Hove and Kingsway, and Kingsway Ladies, and by one at Hollingbury Park by April 2013, so as to leave one Council maintained green for each club;

            (4) That the green for Kingsway Ladies is either removed in April 2014 or the responsibility and costs of its maintenance passes to Hove and Kingsway, or Kingsway Ladies, leaving one Council maintained green for either both clubs or one;

            (5) That a report is brought forward to the relevant committee in a years time to review the numbers  of players by club to assess whether there have been improvements in participation in the sport and the viability of each club;

            (6) That the Sports Development Team actively promote bowling in the city to increase participation in the sport in recognition of its importance to older people and given that many of the existing facilities still have capacity for increased use.