Message from Cllr Lewis Robinson following Overview & scrutiny meeting on Wednesday

It looks like we will now also have to campaign for the capital grant from the government. Remember that the full council exec will consider this tomorrow at 7pm at the town hall - I hope to see some of you there...

----- Original Message -----
From: Robinson, Lewis
To:
Cc:
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 7:49 PM
Subject: Camberwell Baths
Dear All,

I thought I should just send you an e-mail to summarise my position following this morning’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, which is as follows;

The Council is strongly committed to finding a way to make the refurbishment of Camberwell Leisure Centre happen. The community have told me that they want the retention of the pool, and I intend to pursue a financially viable solution that meets that aspiration. After a considerable period of time looking to find additional funding, a serious opportunity has now presented itself through the Government’s Free Swimming Capital programme and the Council will be applying for match funding as a priority. If successful the funding difficulties would be substantially reduced and we could move to a formal procurement process. I believe we can make an outstanding case for Camberwell based on the work that has already been done to date and it is incumbent on all elected representatives in Southwark to help me make the strongest possible case for Camberwell.

I hope that is helpful. I can also confirm that I am happy to accept the suggested amendments made by Overview & Scrutiny to the recommendations discussed this morning.

I am keen to discuss with all interested parties how we make our case, so please keep in touch.

Regards,

Lewis

Papers for overview & scrutiny meeting tomorrow and exec on Monday

Can be found on the Council's website - here http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourCouncil/AgendasMinutes/overviewandscrutinyhome/overviewandscrutinypapers.html

The recommendation is quite open about the future of the baths, so please continue to let Lewis Robinson know your views:


RECOMMENDATIONS
This report provides an update on options for Camberwell Leisure Centre and recommends
that the Executive should:
1. Proceed with a Free Swimming Capital Modernisation application. Once the outcome is
known, the Executive need to consider whether to
• If successful, undertake a procurement exercise seeking a market solution which
aims at retention of a pool at Camberwell.
or
• If unsuccessful, review all options which have hitherto been presented to the Council
for the future of Camberwell Leisure Centre, including a land disposal which does not
include a pool.

Overview and Scrutiny committee - VENUE CHANGE

There has been a last minute change in venue for this meeting on Wednesday at 10am from Cator street to the Town Hall in Peckham Road. Easier place to get to but still a difficult time...

Swim in - Camberwell - Sat 11 October 1-2:30pm

Calling all Camberwell Leisure Centre supporters...

We are holding a swim in this Saturday at the leisure centre. Please come along for a dip to show your support. If you don't fancy a swim then please come anyway - we are hoping to get the press there to highlight this crucial part of the campaign ahead of the council decision later this month.

Dates for your diary

Southwark Council's Overview and scrutiny committee will consider the proposals for the future of the baths on 15th October at 10am at their offices in Cator Street, north of Commercial Way. This will be a difficult meeting for many working people to get to,so if you can make it to support the future of the baths, please go along.

The full Council executive will consider the proposals the following Monday 20th October at the Town Hall at 7pm.

Whether you can make the meeting or not, please let Lewis Robinson, Executive member for Culture, Leisure & Sport know what you think should be done - he can be contacted at lewis.robinson@southwark.gov.uk

Southwark News article on last week's public meeting

http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,11973,5444,00.htm

Please see this good article in Southwark news on the public meeting to consider the three initial proposals for the Leisure Centre and recording the "overwhelming insistence on the community requirement to keep a pool" which I would agree came across very strongly at the meeting.

Were you there? What did you think?

Introduction

I've set this up to enable others to easily contribute information and support to the Camberwell Baths Campaign to provide a more up to date and dynamic site than http://www.camberwellbathscampaign.org/ which will now largely remain static, so put all your news & views here.

Thanks

Hugh