Agenda item

Feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Teignmouth Lido Call In

To update the Executive on the call in of the Executive decision on 10th February 2026 relating to Teignmouth Lido.

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

That the Executive:

1.     Notes the recommendation of Overview & Scrutiny to reconsider the decision not to open Teignmouth Lido in 2026.

2.     Agrees to the ambition of opening Teignmouth Lido in the 2026 season, subject to any necessary maintenance and repair works to the site and the recruitment of staff.

3.     Instructs officers to seek legal advice regarding procurement and Asset of Community Value (ACV) compliance.

4.     Agrees that any proposal for community operation must:

A)    follow a transparent and fair process.

B)    comply with the Localism Act 2011.

C)   comply with the Procurement Act 2023.

5.     Notes that no binding commitment to transfer, lease or exclusive operation shall be entered into until legal and procurement compliance is confirmed.

 

Minutes:

The Chair used his discretion to move the agenda item up the order. The Executive considered the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from its meeting on Tuesday 3rd March 2026.

 

On Tuesday 10th February 2026, the Executive decided:

1.     Not open the Teignmouth Lido site in 2026 and deliver a budget saving of £74k

2.     Declare the Teignmouth Lido asset surplus to Council requirements and dispose of the freehold interest, as described in the title plan at Appendix C, on the open market, without setting restrictions as to future use.

3.      The results of all bids be brought back to the September Executive meeting for consideration.

 

The first decision to not open for the 2026 season was called in by Councillors and discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 3rd March 2026. The Committee recommended that:

1.     The Executive decision to not open the Teignmouth Lido site in 2026 is reconsidered and reversed.

2.     The Executive works together with the local community and willing community groups to explore other solutions for how the Lido site can be operated in 2026, and details for any proposals to be submitted is given by the Executive in due course.

 

In coming to a final decision, the Executive should consider an Equality Impact Assessment and assessment of the economic and health impact of their decision.

 

The Executive considered the recommendation and an addendum paper prepared for the meeting highlighting the points raised in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

 

At the invitation of the Chair, Councillors Cox, Clarance, MacGregor and Bullivant spoke to the item on a range of points including:

·       Their reflections on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting and the view of local people in the meeting.

·       Their support for the Lido being opened in 2026 either by a community group or by the Council.

·       Personal anecdotes regarding their own use of the Lido and the local history of the Lido. 

·       Recognising the financial pressures on the Council.

 

The Head of Leisure commented on the highlighted areas of discussion from the Overview and Scrutiny meeting and gave a verbal update, summarising the addendum paper.

 

The Managing Director highlighted the financial pressures facing the Council in that the Council had set a budget with £1m taken from reserves and had not set a balanced budget for 7 consecutive years.

 

Councillors Palethorpe, Keeling, G Taylor and Hook spoke as part of the debate, highlighting:

·       The strength of the community feeling for the Lido.

·       Support for the recommendations proposed to open the Lido in the summer of 2026 by the Council.

·       The financial pressures on the Council and the Modern 25 Programme.

·       The longer-term ambition to ensure a community group operates the Lido and ensuring a positive working relationship with any Group who operates the Lido. 

·       Ensuring that the opening of the Lido is advertised and marketed to attract users.

·       The future of assets considering Local Government Reorganisation.

·       The tensions on decision makers that they must balance in making decisions.

·       Linking the Lido to the One Teignbridge Strategy and the upcoming Active Wellbeing Strategy.

·       The previous investment for decarbonisation works at the Lido.

·       The quality of local bathing waters. 

 

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Palethorpe and SECONDED by Councillor G Taylor and

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Executive:

1.     Notes the recommendation of Overview & Scrutiny to reconsider the decision not to open Teignmouth Lido in 2026.

2.     Agrees to the ambition of opening Teignmouth Lido in the 2026 season, subject to any necessary maintenance and repair works to the site and the recruitment of staff.

3.     Instructs officers to seek legal advice regarding procurement and Asset of Community Value (ACV) compliance.

4.     Agrees that any proposal for community operation must:

A)    follow a transparent and fair process.

B)    comply with the Localism Act 2011.

C)   comply with the Procurement Act 2023.

5.     Notes that no binding commitment to transfer, lease or exclusive operation shall be entered into until legal and procurement compliance is confirmed.

 

At this juncture the meeting was adjourned to allow for Members of the Public to leave the public gallery.

 

Councillor Keeling left the meeting and Councillor Palethorpe assumed the Chair of the Meeting.

 

Supporting documents: