Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Legard.

The following public question was submitted by Harry Davis:

'Termination of the RIBC lease means not simply the end of indoor bowling in Ryedale but also the loss of a venue for a wide range of social activities enjoyed by many residents from the whole of Ryedale, overnight collapse of important sources of income for the club, redundancy for staff,  and the ending of the business of the person who provided catering services to the club.  In assessing the merits of the proposal, did councillors take into account these consequences, which were inevitable and should have been obvious, before voting to close the club?'

The Chairman thanked Mr Davis for his question and replied:

“Ryedale District Council did not vote to close the Club.  The decision of Council was for officers to negotiate with the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club to facilitate the sale of the building with vacant possession.  The Club made the decision to surrender their lease which would have run until 2022.”

Mr Davis then asked a supplementary question:

“If, or when, it comes to a deal on the sale of the premises, can we be assured that it is not facilitated by any subsidy or grant such as that announced for the rents at Harrison House but is regarded with such horror for the RIBC?”

The Chairman agreed that a written reply would be provided.

A petition was presented opposing the sale of the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club.  Mr Terence Wray, petition organiser, spoke in support of the petition.

Members to indicate whether they will be declaring any interests under the Code of Conduct.

Members making a declaration of interest at a meeting of a Committee or Council are required to disclose the existence and nature of that interest.  This requirement is not discharged by merely declaring a personal interest without further explanation.

The following interests were declared:

Councillor Mrs Keal – a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as Mayor of Norton and a member of Norton Town Council, who had requested that the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club be listed as an asset of community value under the Localism Act 2011.

Councillor P Andrews - a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as a member of a group that regularly used the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club.

Councillor Mrs Cowling - a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as she had, like all Members, been lobbied on this issue.

Proposed by Cllr Clark and seconded by Cllr Walker, to consider the motion that;

“This Council recognises the need for a full size Indoor Bowls facility within Ryedale.”

Prior to the start of the debate, Councillor Ives proposed and Councillor Raper seconded the suspension of Standing Order 13.4, which restricted the length of speeches.  On being put to the vote, this procedural motion was carried.

1.      It was moved by Councillor Clark and seconded by Councillor Walker that

“This Council recognises the need for a full size Indoor Bowls facility within Ryedale.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Mrs Keal and seconded by Councillor Mrs Shields to add:

“Norton on Derwent town council has today submitted a nomination to register the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Bill 2011.

In view of this action Full Council agrees to:

a)    Delay the proposed sale of the site whilst the application for registration of the Club is determined in line with the requirements of the Localism Bill 2011, and

b)    Should the nomination to register be successful, work with a steering group made up of users of the club and an appropriately qualified expert to develop a business plan which will lead to a sustainable future for the facility.”

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was carried.

A further amendment was moved by Councillor Mrs Cowling and seconded by Councillor Arnold to change the word “need” to “desire”.

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was carried.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Arnold, Bailey, Mrs Burr, Collinson, Mrs Cowling, Cussons, Mrs Frank, Fraser, Mrs Goodrick, Hawkins, Hicks, Hope, Mrs Hopkinson, Mrs Keal, Maud, Raper, Mrs Sanderson, Mrs Shields, Wainwright and Windress

Against

Councillors J Andrews, P Andrews, Clark, Richardson, Walker, Ward and Woodward

Abstentions

Councillor Ives.

Upon being put to the vote, the substantive motion was then carried.

Resolved:

This Council recognises the desire for a full size Indoor Bowls facility within Ryedale.

Norton on Derwent town council has today submitted a nomination to register the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Bill 2011.

In view of this action Full Council agrees to:

a)    Delay the proposed sale of the site whilst the application for registration of the Club is determined in line with the requirements of the Localism Bill 2011, and

b)    Should the nomination to register be successful, work with a steering group made up of users of the club and an appropriately qualified expert to develop a business plan which will lead to a sustainable future for the facility.