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Free swimming for under-16s back on course after negotiation of two week extension for bid, as still more funding is identified
Following my approaches to Ministers, B&NES Council, which has again this year rejected Government funding to make it free for under-16s to swim in local pools, has been given extra time to join the £140 million nationwide scheme (September 2009). They now have two extra weeks to show whether or not they consider local youngsters are important enough to merit free swimming which young people in neighbouring Bristol, for example, already enjoy.
Unlike many other Councils across the country, Conservative-run B&NES refused to accept Government funding to make it free for youngsters to swim in pools in Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Bath.
Other Councils have made the scheme a success through skilful negotiation. For example, neighbouring Bristol has made sure the Government funding is sufficient to successfully run and pay for the under-16 swimming scheme by negotiating with the company that operates its pools. In contrast, B&NES councillors see local youngsters as such a low priority, they have not tried to make the scheme work choosing instead to blame the Government for an alleged funding shortfall.
When taken to task by B&NES Labour councillor John Bull, ruling B&NES Tories challenged him to identify a funding source to meet the claimed shortfall. The Labour councillor has now called their bluff, identifying a sum in excess of £100,000. This is money that is being accrued by the Council as a result of it paying less tax following the Government’s VAT reduction from 17.5 to 15 per cent on the £5 million-plus revenue it receives from Council-run car parks.
With the Tory funding challenge now met, I asked Ministers for an extension to the deadline that B&NES has to accept the funding.
Because B&NES puts local youngsters so far down its list of priorities it failed to meet the original under-16 swimming deadline, which passed on 8 September. But in view of the exceptional circumstances I have now been told the Council can have an extension of two weeks to place its bid.
Labour does not accept the lame excuse that there is a shortfall in Government funding, as clearly witnessed by other Councils’ success with the scheme. So we are calling the Tories bluff and have identified money, as they requested, to plug their pretend shortfall. Now there can be no reason for the Council to refuse youngsters free swimming – the deadline for them to apply has been extended and their funding challenge has been met.
It is really a question of how important local youngsters are to this Tory Council. Will they again avoid this Government-funded scheme for under-16 swimming and come up with some obscure excuse, or will they rise to the challenge like other Councils to ensure it is a success?
Other Councils rightly offer free swimming to under-16s under the scheme. These Councils recognise it helps youngsters stay fit and healthy - and helps young people occupy their time and channel their energies in a constructive way. There is absolutely no reason for B&NES Tories not to join in the success of this Government scheme and more poor excuses just won’t wash.
In response to a challenge by Labour Councillor John Bull (Paulton ward), Tory Cllr Terry Gazzard, B&NES Cabinet Member in charge of Leisure, complained of a shortfall and asked Cllr Bull to “indicate where he believes this funding should come from and what other services should be cut.” |