Hunt for firm to run York’s community stadium (From York Press)

Hunt for firm to run York’s community stadium

8:00am Monday 6th February 2012 in Community stadium news By Mark Stead, Political Reporter

THE search for a firm to run York’s community stadium and the city’s council-run leisure centres is to go ahead, despite calls for it to be put on hold.

City of York Council officers have begun looking for an operator for the proposed Monks Cross venue and the neighbouring Waterworld facility which could also take charge of Energise and Yearsley swimming pool, with the aim of finding a preferred bidder by the start of 2013.

The authority says it would cut costs and unlock new investment, but three Liberal Democrat councillors and Green Party leader Coun Andy d’Agorne called for a rethink, saying the criteria any operator – which could be a social enterprise – must meet should be decided in public.

However, the council’s scrutiny management committee chose not to overturn a decision by Coun Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and social inclusion, to start the procurement process.

“As with the Barbican centre, the criteria will be crucial in shaping what kind of organisation is successful at the tendering stage,” said Coun Nigel Ayre, the Lib Dems leisure and culture spokesman.

“With this project, it is even more crucial as the successful bidder will play a major role in the development of facilities at the stadium. Mistakes now could be traced back to the decision not to discuss and debate the criteria in public to ensure they meet everybody’s expectations for the stadium.”

Lib Dem leader Coun Carol Runciman said she feared the criteria would be laid out “behind closed doors”, while Coun D’Agorne said: “Energise and Yearsley have been bundled up into a deal to attract bids from a private company to manage a stadium which has yet to even obtain planning permission and without prior public consultation.

“We should be able to see details of how the council will retain control over fees and charges so all York residents can access the facilities, and how the tender will make sure community benefit and sustainability won’t be traded off to ensure market interest.”

Coun Crisp said the council was following “established procedures” for finding leisure operators and the Barbican procurement became “unworkable” when councillors got involved.

“The Barbican example is a good argument for politicians retaining an overview and not trying to do officers’ jobs for them,” she said.

“I’m committed to transparency and the approach we have adopted has residents and taxpayers’ money at the heart of it, as it will deliver significant savings.”