Over £1 million is seemingly missing from finances, causing budget worries and pool closure concerns.
A council member, Adrian Owens, spoke up about the missing money, stating it was gone from a revenue report. He said that he could not approve the budget without it causing some residents to share these worries because the missing money harms trust.
The canceled meeting focused on the pools’ future. The council cited the need for more time, saying that they’re evaluating a complex financial situation, but this delay caused more questions.
Dave Beeston spoke at the resources meeting, addressing the pools’ finances. He illustrated how two pools earn around £1.3 million yearly, which covers most operating costs, not profits, adding that the council always helps cover the rest.
He also mentioned a possible financial notice, but he believes this is unlikely given their budget gap compared to other councils that face bigger problems. These notices limit council actions greatly because a new, balanced budget becomes mandatory.
Beeston thinks the council delays are suspicious; he suspects they are trying to justify something. He questioned if pool decisions are already made and wonders why key budget details are missing.
Jake Rothwell also spoke; his daughter dives at a local pool, and closing it would ruin her diving dreams because he says other pools are too far, adding that money is also a big factor since some families cannot afford to travel.
Rothwell noted inconsistent fees, mentioning that gym memberships have different prices. He thinks some centers are badly managed, and he wants the council to consider the community impact.
Council leader Yvonne Gagen said they will review everything soon, and Mark Anderson asked councillors to approve the financial report, covering budgets, gaps, and reserve funds. Adrian Owens strongly disagreed with the results, wanting clearer figures, and David Whittington also opposed the report.
Owens highlighted how the council missed grant funding for plastic recycling. Gareth Dowling suggested they just acknowledge the report; they agreed to do this instead.