THERE could be serious ramifications for West Somerset if district councillors do not move forward with the multi-million pound New Horizons scheme, members of the authority's cabinet were warned at a private meeting on Wednesday. Councillors met behind closed doors at the end of their monthly cabinet meeting to discuss a confidential report on the feasibility of the New Horizons 'healthplex' project, including its affordability, value for money and both long and short-term risks. They were warned that the worst case scenario could see Minehead left without any hospital if New Horizons failed to materialise, as the new hospital would not happen and the existing one could prove too costly to maintain in the long term. No New Horizons would also mean no replacement pool and leisure complex, meaning money would have to be found to upgrade and maintain the existing, ageing Aquasplash facility. Many of the council's key priorities, namely the drive to improve the well-being and skills of residents, could also fall by the wayside. A copy of the confidential report obtained by the Free Press reveals the funding split between the partners involved in the scheme - the Somerset Primary Care Trust, Somerset County Council and West Somerset Council. It also reveals the authority could potentially save money on the running costs of a leisure centre compared with those associated with Aquasplash in the past. The report urged councillors to forge ahead with plans to sell the "left over" land at Seaward Way for housing to "remove an element of risk from the funding package", having already spent £2.7 million acquiring the site. Although the final decision on the scheme will rest with next Wednesday's full council - which is also due to meet in private to discuss the report - members of the cabinet are believed to have given the venture their full backing. The Free Press was unable to confirm what was agreed by the cabinet before going to press yesterday (Thursday), but the recommendations on the report had called for members to enter into a formal agreement with the partners to deliver the project. The district council was also asked to confirm its contribution of up to £7 million of the £14 million needed for the learning and leisure aspect of the scheme, subject to a number of conditions. These included that a contribution towards the annual running costs would be "no more than £100,000, less than the current cost of Aquasplash" and that the centre was a true community facility. The "extra £7 million" would only be forthcoming once the Vulcan Road and Aquasplash sites were sold in the future and once a "satisfactory service level agreement" was in place. The centre would also have to provide better facilities than those currently on offer in West Somerset. In the report, chief executive Tim Howes said the project would offer value for money as it was the only way the district could secure a new hospital, a skills and enterprise centre and improved leisure facilities. He said: "Although not specifically a district council responsibility, the facilitation of a major new health facility in the district would be a significant achievement and, since there are no costs involved for the council, could be said to represent, and even, perhaps, demonstrate value for money. "The second major element of the project is the skills and enterprise building. "Addressing the needs of children and young people is an important priority for the council and improving skill levels is an important element in promoting economic development, another key priority. "The skills and enterprise centre, in close association with the adult learning component of the leisure and learning centre directly addresses these priorities. "The third element of the project is what has been referred to as the leisure facility. "This shorthand reference is, however, misleading as the building will be more than simply a traditional sports and leisure facility. "It is probably better, therefore, to refer to it, at least for the time being, as the leisure and learning centre. "Whatever its title, it requires local funding since there are no grants available." Mr Howes said the centre would offer better public facilities to improve the quality of life for West Somerset residents, would help to market the town, create jobs, address local training needs, benefit rural areas as well as Minehead and generate efficiency and energy savings. He urged councillors to begin the process of appointing an operator for the leisure and learning centre at the earliest opportunity and said arrangements needed to be made to sell the residential site on Seaward Way. He concluded: "West Somerset Council is only one body which is primarily responsible for the well- being of the community of West Somerset and it is difficult to imagine any other practical way in which the money could be more effectively spent to address the range of priorities targeted by New Horizons." l Cabinet members faced criticism from members of the public for deciding to hold the New Horizons report in private, although they were offered a sliver of support from Minehead Chamber of Trade chairman Graham Sizer. Jenny Lennon-Wood, of Minehead, said it was impossible for people to have a meaningful say on the item as they had no idea what the report was about.
