Agenda item - Hollingbury Park and Waterhall Golf Courses

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That Committee:

1)            Approves the marketing of Hollingbury Park Golf Course and the Waterhall Golf Course on long term leases for either golf or other leisure use. 2.2 Delegates authority to the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to undertake the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1. 2.3 Notes that a further report will be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee which will set out the outcome of the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1.

2)            Delegates authority to the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to undertake the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1. 2.3 Notes that a further report will be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee which will set out the outcome of the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1.

3)            Notes that a further report will be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee

4)            Agrees that as part of the further report, committee agrees to consider an additional alternative option, as set out below:

Option 5: To bring the operation of both golf courses back in-house with the option to convert one or both of the courses into a different type of leisure facility or environmental space

This option will explore the opportunity and financial viability of bringing both courses back in-house, with the option of converting one or both of the golf courses into different types of leisure facilities, as referred to in 4.3 of this report, and including the option to explore the feasibility of a rewilding project.

12.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that requested a marketing exercise for Hollingbury Park and Waterhall golf courses due to the forthcoming expiry of the management contract.

12.2      On behalf of the Green Group, Councillor Ebel moved add a recommendation 2.4 as shown below:

2.4      That as part of the further report, committee agrees to consider an additional alternative option, as set out below:

Option 5: To bring the operation of both golf courses back in-house with the option to convert one or both of the courses into a different type of leisure facility or environmental space

             This option will explore the opportunity and financial viability of bringing both courses back in-house, with the option of converting one or both of the golf courses into different types of leisure facilities, as referred to in 4.3 of this report, and including the option to explore the feasibility of a rewilding project.

12.3      Introducing the motion, Councillor Ebel explained that both the Green Group and Labour Group manifestos had pledged to bring more services in-house. Converting one or both of the golf courses into a different type of leisure facility would be welcome as golf courses did not promote biodiversity and required chemical treatments. Furthermore, a different facility would appeal to a wider demographic.

12.4      Councillor Mears sought clarification as Option 3 on page 119 of the agenda gave clear advice as to why it was not recommended to bring the facilities in-house.

12.5      The Chair stated that it was entirely acceptable for any of the political groups to seek to amend the recommendations by submitting a motion to do so to a meeting and it was for the committee to decide whether to agree with that motion or not.

12.6      Councillor Nemeth queried that if the default position was to bring services in-house, why that had not been listed as one of the options in the report.

12.7      The Chair stated that the Labour Group had committed to examining the feasibility of bringing services in-house on a case by case basis and he welcomed the motion submitted by the Green Group.

12.8      Councillor Nemeth queried why it an opposition group had submitted such a motion and not the administration.

12.9      The Chair replied that the Green Group submission was how the decision-making process worked.

12.10   Councillor Druitt formally seconded the motion and explained that climate change was the biggest issue of this generation and golf courses represented an opportunity to decide how the council used its land to promote bio-diversity and combat climate change.

12.11   The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

12.12   The Chair put the recommendations, as amended, to the vote that passed.

12.13   RESOLVED-  That Committee:

1)            Approves the marketing of Hollingbury Park Golf Course and the Waterhall Golf Course on long term leases for either golf or other leisure use. 2.2 Delegates authority to the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to undertake the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1. 2.3 Notes that a further report will be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee which will set out the outcome of the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1.

2)            Delegates authority to the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to undertake the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1. 2.3 Notes that a further report will be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee which will set out the outcome of the marketing exercise referred to in 2.1.

3)            Notes that a further report will be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee

4)            Agrees that as part of the further report, committee agrees to consider an additional alternative option, as set out below:

Option 5: To bring the operation of both golf courses back in-house with the option to convert one or both of the courses into a different type of leisure facility or environmental space

This option will explore the opportunity and financial viability of bringing both courses back in-house, with the option of converting one or both of the golf courses into different types of leisure facilities, as referred to in 4.3 of this report, and including the option to explore the feasibility of a rewilding project.