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Holywell Leisure Centre CAT and Leisure and Libraries ADM

Published: 21/11/2016

At its meeting on 15 November, Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet considered a report on the progress of the Leisure and Libraries Alternative Delivery Model (ADM). One of the key considerations at earlier Cabinet meetings was the engagement and commitment of front line staff to the proposed ADM. Staff attending the May 2016 Cabinet meeting talked about their commitment to the proposed Employee Led Mutual. Cabinet agreed a proposal to incorporate the Museums Service within the new organisation as no option exists for the service to be part of a local Museums Trust. They also agreed that the final implementation plan for the new organisation be brought back to December Cabinet, that the staff vote follows Cabinet in December 2016 and that a revised date of establishment of the new organisation is July 2017. Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Services, Councillor Kevin Jones, said: “Establishing the new organisation in July 2017 will allow for a six-month shadow period with a shadow board and management team operating from the end of January 2017. This is a realistic timetable and ensures that the savings budgeted for in 2017/18 can be made without any closure of facilities, which is a great achievement given the current economic climate.” At the same meeting, Cabinet also looked at progress on the Holywell Leisure Centre Community Asset Transfer (CAT) which was agreed in July. The report set out progress made by the community group which included engagement and consultation with staff, incorporation as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and discussions with town and community councils. Councillor Jones said: “Based on the work that the community group has done to date and the complexity of the work which needs to be undertaken to ensure this transfer is successful, the Council has agreed that the transfer itself be phased from 31 December 2016 to 1 March 2017.”