Tories on the Community Services Scrutiny and Performance Panel blocked an attempt at last night’s meeting by Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shires to recommend that The Cabinet put a hold on the closure of Willenhall Leisure Centre whilst a review of all options for leisure across the Borough is reviewed.  

The blocking move was lead by Tory councillor Melvin Pitt who had said in the highly charged debate that bold actions needed to be taken. Some facilities needed to be closed and sold to provide the capital to provide the capital for a world class facility.

Cabinet member and Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tory councillor Anthony Harris had earlier said that he wanted nothing ruled out and everything ruled in. “If he really believes in what he says I would expect him to put the case for the status quo when The Cabinet meets to discuss Leisure Strategy on the 14th April” said Lib Dem councillor Ian Shires.

The report to last night’s Scrutiny Panel made reference to the condition and age of much of the Council’s leisure facilities. It also pointed out that an initial review with outline proposals had been submitted to the Corporate Management Team as long ago as 2007.

Reference was made in the report to the need for the Council to reduce revenue spend by up to £50m over the next three years, this prompted councillor Ian Shires to ask councillor Harris whether he was talking about “Providing for the well-being and health of the citizens of Walsall or was it just about cutting costs?”

Councillor Harris’s answer talked about the true objectives being to upgrade provision and the jigsaw of opportunities contained within the report but nowhere did he offer up the answer to the how or when given the budget constraints faced by the Council.

“My concern” said councillor Shires “is that whilst any review of leisure provision across Walsall is being conducted the lack of facilities to the West of the M6 given that Darlaston Multi Purpose Centre closed last year and now you plan to close Willenhall Leisure Centre this year, nothing is being done to reverse the 8.4 years differencial in life expectancy between the East and West of the Borough.”