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The proposed motion, put forward by the Residents' Association group, read: “Further to the announcement by the Government that funding for the free swimming programme will end on 31 st July, this Council agrees to support the programme for a further month in respect of children aged 16 years and under in order that the initiative is maintained throughout the whole of the school summer holidays”. Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Clarence Barrett (RA, Cranham), who put together the proposed motion said: “The Government recently announced that funding would be withdrawn from the free swimming programme affecting under 16's and over 60's. The cut off date is 31 st July, which happens to be in the middle of the school holidays. “I have discussed with colleagues across the country as to the different approaches adopted by councils and looked into financial implications of extending the scheme by one month. The cost, which could have been met from a £2million contingency fund, was estimated at £22,500. “The benefits of extending the scheme would have meant a free and healthy facility to children throughout the whole of the summer holidays. This also provides an affordable activity cost to parents and children alike. Other councils extending the initiative up to the end of the school holidays include Northampton , Tower Hamlets, North Lincolnshire, Salford, East Cheshire, Southend, St Albans, Telford, Hampshire, Lewes, South Holland, Wolverhampton, Portsmouth , Leeds, Stevenage and Luton . The proposed motion was deemed too late for the deadline for inclusion in the Council agenda but could have been included at the Mayors discretion. Cllr Barrett said: “Given the unique set of circumstances and the necessary gathering of information, I was unable to lodge this motion within the published timescales. I am, of course, disappointed that a proposal which would have been beneficial to all our young people and likely to attract cross bench support did not go forward. Ultimately it is down to the Mayor as to whether or not urgent motions can be accepted and that is the prerogative of that office. “However this did not stop the Leader of the Council from shamefully hijacking the idea and coming up with a watered down version which will only extend free swimming to youngsters whose parents can afford to enrol them on a swimming course or on a sports holiday course. “Yet again, this conservative Administration, which proclaim to prioritise the promotion of activities and health for our young people, totally miss the point. “All that was needed, like other councils have done up and down the country, was to reach a general consensus to extend free swimming to all our under 16s for the full duration of the summer holidays rather than cutting it off half way through”. 30.7.10 |
An urgent motion by the Residents' Association to extend the free swimming programme for school children by one month throughout the school holidays was deemed too late to be considered by Full Council this week. However, this did not stop the conservative Administration hijacking the idea and coming up with a watered down version!