Agenda item

The following Executive Decision (1 of 3 decisions relating to the Lido) made at the meeting held on 10 February 2026 has been called in by Councillor Magregor and supported by Councillors Clarance, Horner, P Parker, Bradford, J Taylor, and Radford.

 

RESOLVED

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

 

Councillor’s Macgregor’s reasons for calling in the decision is:

 

That Executive should reconsider the decision to not open the Lido for this year on the following basis.

 

1. £74,000 was set aside to cover the losses expected this year
2. That keeping the Lido closed this year ignores its 50^th anniversary year
3. That keeping the Lido closed damages the prospects for a successful community bid by hamstringing the use and setting back any growth in numbers using it
4. That keeping it closed potentially damages the economy of Teignmouth during a time of economic uncertainty
5. That despite keeping it closed, there are still costs likely to exceed £45,000
6. Lastly, that keeping it closed potentially reduces interest to those just wishing to redevelop rather than offer swimming facilities for residents and tourists.

 

Officer report in response to the call-in  -  to follow

 

The full minute and agenda report of the Executive 10 February 2026 can be found at the link below and are also attached for ease of reference.

Agenda for Executive on Tuesday, 10th February 2026, 10.00 am - Teignbridge District Council

 

The process for call-in at an overview and scrutiny meeting is set out below:

 

·       The call-in will be determined by a two-phase provision. Firstly, an initial information gathering and questioning; Secondly, a debate and decision.

·       The Chair will briefly introduce the item and begin the information gathering and questioning phase. The mover of the call-in will be invited to speak on the call-in and to propose the action they wish to be taken. At this stage, Committee Members may question the mover of the call-in.

·       The Executive Member(s) and/or officers in attendance for the call-in will then address the call-in scrutiny Committee Members who will then ask questions.

·       Following this information and questioning phase, the Chair will open up the debate to Committee Members. Following debate, the Chair shall invite any Executive Member in attendance to respond to the issues raised during the debate of the call-in prior to inviting the first named person on the call in to make a concluding statement and propose a recommendation for the Committee to consider.

 

·       The committee will then make a decision on the item which could be:

 

(a)    the decision should not be challenged and that it will then be implemented in accordance with the Executive’s original decision, or

(b)    a different course of action can be recommended for the Executive to consider with any available supporting evidence, or

(c)    the matter should be referred to Full Council if it is a matter of significance for the whole district (this will only apply in exceptional circumstances).

RECOMMENDED

 

The Committee recommends to the Executive 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 Chair referred to the agenda which included the reports that were considered by the Executive on 10 February 2026, and set out the details of the call-in by Cllr Macgregor and the requisite number of councillors with the reasons for the call-in. The agenda also set out the meeting process for the call-in.

 

The Executive decision was:

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.

 

Decision 1) only was called in.

 

Cllr Macgregor’s reasons for the call-in were set out on the agenda as follows:

 

1.       “£74,000 was set aside to cover the losses expected this year

2.       That keeping the Lido closed this year ignores its 50^th anniversary year

3.       That keeping the Lido closed damages the prospects for a successful community bid by hamstringing the use and setting back any growth in numbers using it

4.       That keeping it closed potentially damages the economy of Teignmouth during a time of economic uncertainty

5.       That despite keeping it closed, there are still costs likely to exceed £45,000

6.       Lastly, that keeping it closed potentially reduces interest to those just wishing to redevelop rather than offer swimming facilities for residents and tourists.”

 

Cllr Clarance also made a request for a call-in.

 

A report setting out the officers’ response to the call-in reasons was circulated prior to the meeting, which advised correct financial issues relating to points 1 and 5 above, and that there was no substantial evidence for points 3,4 and 6.

 

Expanding on his call-in reasons above Councillor Macgregor comments included:

·         Not opening for the 2026 season would make a saving of £40-44K because £36K would still need to be spent irrespective of the facility opening.

·         Closing would not be reasonable for those who have renewed their Teignbridge Leisure membership.

·         Has the impact of clubs double booking for the 2025 session and only paying for one booking been taken into account.

·         Not all visits have been recorded at times when members have used the facility but not been logged on the system due to reception being unmanned.

·         The facility is used by schools.

 

Other comments made by Councillors included:

·         The Lido could be run by a Trust community group.

·         Kingsteignton outdoor pool is run by a community group which initially had much support from the Town Council.

·         Are there usage figures for the years before Covid and the facility closing during this time in which the decarbonisation works were undertaken.

·         Have the decarbonisation works costing £840k decreased energy costs?

·         What was the loss of income from closing early last season for maintenance issues.

·         Outdoor pool usage is likely to increase as a result of publicity regarding sea pollution.

·         The user numbers have significantly reduced over the years.

·         Schools using the Lido will have difficulty finding another facility.

·         Has an Equality Impact Assessment been undertaken for closing the facility?

 

Responses to issues raised above included:

·         The £30-40K costs of not opening is separate and it is incorrect to reduce from the £74K saving. The potential saving is £110-120k depending on maintenance required.

·         The £74k saving is mainly staff and utilities costs.

·         The cost of running the facility would be significantly higher without the decarbonisation works, bearing in mind that energy costs have increased.

·         An Equality Impact Assessment has not been undertaken.

 

The Chair agreed to Section 4 of the Constitution relating to public speaking procedure rules being suspended to enable members of the public to speak. This was proposed by Councillor Cox and seconded by Councillor Swain and unanimously RESOLVED.

 

Several members of the public made comments which included:

·         Customers will go elsewhere if the facility does not open.

·         The facility is poorly advertised with lack of direction signage.

·         The Teignmouth Lido Trust would like to take on and run the facility with a Business Plan and innovation to increase usage and at least break even.  Energy could be sold back to the Grid, and a community group would have access to grants that the District Council does not. Councillors and staff could work with the community group to achieve this.

·         There are many clubs and groups, residents and schools who would use the facility if opened for the 2026 season.

·          A survey showed that 88% preferred a community group to run the Lido and 12% preferred Teignbridge Council.

·         Has the health and wellbeing impact of closing the facility been considered?

·         The opening season and programme for 2025 was very limited in duration of weeks and opening hours. This could be expanded.

·         The community should have the opportunity to run the facility, to increase usage and provide a break-even situation.

 

When all members of the public wishing to speak had done so it was proposed by Councillor Swain, seconded by Councillor Taylor and unanimously,

 

RESOLVED

 

That the meeting procedure at Section 4 of the Constitution be reinstated.

 

The Chair summarised issues raised for consideration:

·         Residents wish to see the Lido remain open.

·         A community group would attract more users.

·         The need to pass control to the community to operate the Lido for the 2026 season.

·         Any solution must enable all community groups to participate.

·         Time should be given to these groups to allow them to operate during this year.

·         Leisure staff and Councillors to support and work with the community.

·         The Executive to consider an Equality Impact Assessment and assessment of the economic and health impact of their decision.

 

In response to comments made and call-in reason 3 above the meeting was advised:

·          The ambition for the future of the Lido is that it is transferred to a community group. Any interested group has 6 months to bid for the site.

·          The Council is required to adhere to the ACV (Asset of Community Value) legislation, and one group should not be given an advantageous position over other interested bidding groups.

·          Decisions 2) and 3) of the Executive 10 February 2026 not subject to call-in and set out above, have been actioned and have triggered the ACV process in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. 

 

It was considered that the facility should remain open and run by the community for the 2026 season if possible, with the support of the Council leisure staff. Therefore, decision 1 of the Executive decision made on 10 February 2026 as called in should be challenged.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Macgregor, seconded by Councillor Swain and unanimously

 

RECOMMENDED

 

The Committee recommends to the Executive 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.