2nd December 2023
To whom it may concern,
Ward Freman Pool, Buntingford, Herts
This is an open letter to address questions surrounding Ward Freman pool. While we are focused on seeking a positive solution for funding the repairs, we are aware that many people want to understand how the pool reached a state of needing to close due to concerns to health. In brief:
- Responsibility for paying for Ward Freman is split 60%/40% between East Herts District Council (EHDC), and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC).
- Until May 2023, both EHDC and HCC were under Conservative administration. No agreement between the administrations was reached to fund the work needed.
- While budget had been ‘approved’ for work to take place in 2020, the spend repeatedly did not take place. Funding was removed from the capital budget in March 2023.
- In May 2023, EHDC changed to a Green/LibDem joint administration. We inherited an extremely challenging budget and considerable existing investment commitments.
- We are currently exploring multiple options for financing the work, and we hope to find a way of bringing the pool back into use.
Background
Ward Freman pool was built about 40 years ago. The building is owned by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), while East Herts District Council (EHDC) is responsible for provision of services, which are contracted to Everyone Active. Part of the arrangement with the pool is that it is part used by the school for education purposes. The arrangement for funding is that Hertfordshire County Council is responsible for 40% of the costs, and East Herts District Council is responsible for 60%. Due to this arrangement, Ward Freman is referred to as a “joint-use” facility. The two other joint-use facilities are Fanshawe in Ware, and Leventhorpe in Sawbridgeworth. Until May 2023, both Hertfordshire County Council and East Herts District Council were under a Conservative administration.
2016 – a ‘Task and Finish’ group looked at all five EHDC leisure facilities, including the three joint-use facilities. Ward Freman pool was noted as being severely loss making (c. £115,000 per year). The two other joint-use facilities also ran at a loss, but not as significant. Several potential options for the future of the five sites were explored within the document. There was hesitation around investing in the joint-use facilities for fear of losing the 40% funding from HCC. The preferred option was to make strategic investments in Grange Paddocks and Hartham Leisure Centre, as these are owned by EHDC, and then develop a plan regarding joint-use facilities. The option of closing Ward Freman and the other joint-use facilities was reserved in the event that other options had been fully explored and found not to be viable.
2017 – At the Executive meeting on 27th June 2017, following further work by the ‘task and finish’ group, a proposal was put to the Executive to redevelop Ward Freman to include a small gym facility. £881,000 was approved in principle for redevelopment including a small gym on the ground floor, retiling the pool surrounds, redecorating the pool and refurbishing/remodelling the changing areas. This later appeared in the Capital Programme 2019/2020 – 2022/2023, budgeted for the year 2020.
2020 – While spend for Ward Freman was initially budgeted for in 2020, due to being a joint-use facility, the ability to fund the identified project was always dependent on HCC funding the 40% share. At that point, an agreement could not be reached, and the work did not progress.
2020 to 2023 – Looking through the various documents and minutes (full links available below), it is possible to see that the budgeted amount, originally set for 2020, was repeatedly pushed forward as budget pressures mounted. Stated reasons for budget pressures include increased costs of existing capital projects due to Brexit, the impact of Covid-19, and the impact of increased inflation. Increased borrowing to help fund existing capital projects also added significant budget pressure. During this time, while some small upgrades were made to Ward Freman, for example a carpet fitted in the reception area, no significant investments took place. Meanwhile, essential components to the pool continued to deteriorate through wear and tear. Eventually, in the budget plan put forward to full council in March 2023, it was agreed that it was necessary to pause multiple capital projects in order to manage the budget. At this point, the spend for Ward Freman was taking out of the budget and moved to ‘approved not yet committed’, for the financial year 2025 – 2026. Essentially, no budget was made available or set aside for Ward Freman, nor was one anticipated until at least 2025/2026.
Present
As the new Green/LibDem administration, elected in May 2023, we learnt more about Ward Freman over the summer of 2023, including the now urgent need for the boiler and filtration system to be upgraded, and for a suspected leak in the pool tank to be addressed. Collectively, these repairs came at significant cost, and we were also advised that, in short, neither HCC nor EHDC had the funds to pay for this (see above). We spent a great deal of time exploring what other alternatives there might have been. We have since been asked about Section 106, the Swimming Pool Support Fund, and why money was spent on a cycle path and not the pool. To respond:
Section 106 (money from developments): the ‘education’ portion of this is managed by HCC. Due to Ward Freman pool being a joint use facility, the EHDC portion of S106 could not be used for this. We are exploring whether this situation could change were ownership of the facility to transfer to the community, but for now, this pot is not available for EHDC to use for Ward Freman.
Swimming Pool Support Fund, a government fund made available in 2023: This fund came in two phases. Phase 1) was to help towards energy costs, and phase 2) was to help towards the capital costs of energy improvements such as solar panels or other such efficiencies. Unfortunately, neither of these pots funded repairs, and both required a guarantee of the pool being able to remain open. Given the state of disrepair, this was not something we could do.
The cycle path: although already spent, the question of “why did they build a cycle path rather than invest in the swimming pool?” often comes up. The cycle path project was a piece of work by Highways at HCC, and it was funded by the government Active Travel Fund. This money was ringfenced for active travel, and could therefore only ever have been used for that purpose, and not for the pool.
Moving forward
As a Green/LibDem administration, we are committed to exploring all possible avenues that might enable funding for the pool. We have identified several potential grants which town councils and charity/community groups are eligible to apply for to help towards these costs (local authorities are excluded from applying). Of particular interest is the Community Ownership Fund, which we are currently investigating. We are also liaising with HCC and the community, and we have some fantastic residents onboard and helping with this process.
While the pool closed due to the filtration system, there are multiple other significant concerns, including the boiler, the pool tank, and risks due to the age of the building itself. These issues and their implications all need full exploration. However, assuming no preventative risks are identified, we remain hopeful that we can find a positive outcome. We welcome all support on this matter.
Thank you,
Sarah Hopewell
Executive Member for Wellbeing, Green Party Councillor
Links to the fiscal situation from 2020 - 2023
Executive meeting 21st Jan 2020 - spend for Ward Freman was budgeted for in 2020/2021. a report where budget pressures were highlighted – available here: Sustainable MTFP 2020 21-2023 24 Report.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk) budget of £881,000 for Ward Freman was approved for spend 2020/2021: Sustainable MTFP - Appendix C Capital Programme 20-21 onwards.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk)
Weds 10th Feb 2021 joint scrutiny committee Agenda for Joint Meeting of Scrutiny Committees on Wednesday 10th February, 2021, 7.00 pm - East Herts District Council report: financial plan refers to significant council pressures, linked to wider UK economic downturns, impact of Brexit, impact of Covid. The report talks about the need for a revised plan and to find savings: Budget 202122 and Medium Term Financial Plan 202122 to 202425.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk)
Paragraph 2.18.1 references a review of the capital programme, para 2.18.2 speaks of the need for the capital programme to be financed by additional borrowing. £881k remained in the approved programme for 2021/2022: Budget 202122 and Medium Term Financial Plan 202122 to 202425 Appendix C.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk) This was taken to the Executive committee in Feb 21
Exec Meeting 8th Feb 2022: para 5.3 refers to borrowing required to fund the capital programme, and the impact of this on budgets due to interest rates. para 11.1 refers to further rephasing of the capital programme that took place in Oct 2021, while para 11.2 refers to the need to finance ongoing capital costs through increased borrowing: Budget 2022-23 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2022-23 2026-27.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk) appendix C, Ward Freman spend indicated for financial year 22/23 Budget 2022-23 and Medium Term Financial Plan - Appendix C.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk)
15th Nov 2022: the Audit & Governance meeting, 1.13 references further slippage of the capital programme, and that owing to increasing pressures, some capital schemes may be recommended to be delayed or stopped. Recommendation d) includes a rephasing of the capital programme, and to identify which schemes could be delayed or cancelled to reduce savings requirements Budget 202324 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2023 2028 Preparation.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk)
Tues 24th Jan 2023, Audit & Governance meeing, 1.14 references increase in interest payable on capital loans. 1.15 “current capital programme has effectively used up the borrowing headroom… it is vital that the capital programme is tightly controlled” Budget 2023/24 and MTFP 2023-2028 (eastherts.gov.uk) Ward Freman spend ‘approved not yet committed’ Appendix B Budget 202324 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2023 2028 for scrutiny.pdf (eastherts.gov.uk)
1st March, Full Council Meeting, Minuted: “Councillor Williamson referred to the council’s capital programme. He said the total capital investment across the district would reach £18.4 million of which the council’s major projects contribute £14.9 million. He said the council now had to allow for interest payments and minimum revenue provision of capital borrowing in the MTFP. He said that by pausing some of the lower priority capital projects and moved them into approved but not committed category, the council did not need to allow for financing of these items in the MTFP.”
