Golf Course Delay Inexcusable - How Much Has It Cost Council Tax Payers? (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Golf Course Delay Inexcusable - How Much Has It Cost Council Tax Payers?

February 13, 2004 12:00 PM

After three years of delay Council finally takes decision on Golf Courses

Councillor Mark Harris, Leader of the Opposition Liberal Democrat Group on Leeds City Council, will today condemn the delays over plans to raise money to improve golf courses and other key sports facilities by leasing Council run Golf Courses

Cllr Harris said "The Executive Board originally endorsed a decision to 'realise the asset value of the Council's golf courses' back in December 2000. It then dithered for over a year before, in February 2002, agreeing to 'market test all golf courses'. Since then it has taken a further two years to bring a report on that market testing back to the Executive Board. Throughout that time the condition of the Golf Courses has deteriorated, because the Council has not invested the money needed to maintain them, and the competition has grown. I estimate there are now over 20 'pay and play' golf facilities within a short distance of the City, many of which were not in existence when the recommendation to sell off the Golf Courses was agreed in 2000.

"Now, we find that only two of the five courses have attracted bids which Officers can recommend, and I am sure this is due to the delay in marketing the courses. The amount of money which is available to invest in sports facilities is far less than originally anticipated, so the benefit to the City is minimal. Had the courses been marketed for sale immediately the recommendation was made everyone would have benefited Golfers, - Sport Centres Council Tax Payers and the Council."