NEWS RELEASE

 

21 May 04

 

B&NES Leisure Partnership Overview and Scrutiny Review

 

AS part of its review of the Council’s partnership with Aquaterra Leisure, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Corporate Issues and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday, May 20 to receive views about the partnership.

 

A number of senior managers from Aquaterra, including its Chief Executive Jonathan Gibbs, attended the meeting to listen to views put forward by users of the leisure centres

 

Mr Gibbs said: “Aquaterra Leisure is committed to providing high quality services to the residents of Bath & North East Somerset and I very much appreciated being given an opportunity to better understand and respond to the concerns of local stakeholders.”

 

Cllr Martin Veal, Chair of the Corporate Issues and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Panel, said: “I believe that this review has shown how Overview and Scrutiny can be a prime mover in facilitating the process of engagement between stakeholders and, in this case, the Council and Aquaterra.

 

“I would like to thank all those individuals made the effort to attend and participate.”

 

Barbara Cutting, Honorary Treasurer of Bath Dolphins Swimming Club said: “We think as a club that what Bath & North East Somerset Council did in setting up this Scrutiny Panel to look into their partnership with Aquaterra Leisure was a good and positive action to take.”

 

Cllr Veal added: “I will be meeting with my fellow panel members in early June to consider all the evidence put before us and this will be used to inform draft recommendations to the Executive Member.

 

“The Panel also plans to invite Aquaterra back to meet with it later on in the year to review progress made against our recommendations.”

 

It is anticipated that the conclusions and recommendations of this review will be debated at the next meeting of the Panel which is scheduled for Thursday, July 29.

 

For more information, contact:

Cllr Martin Veal, Chair of the Corporate Issues and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Panel, on Tel: 07976 858258 or e-mail martin_veal@bathnes.gov.uk

 

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