Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Temporary Closure of Uxbridge Golf Course
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Chief Officer Decision Notice – 7 January 2025 Page 1 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk Chief Officer Decision Notice Notice is hereby given that the following Chief Officer Decision has been made, as delegated by the Cabinet/Cabinet Member or under their delegated authority in the Council’s Constitution. 1. NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION Title of decision Temporary Clos ure of Uxbridge Golf Course Name and Title of Chief Officer(s) making the decision Karrie Whelan – Corporate Director of Place Directorate Place Reference No. 0125 Date of decision 7 January 2025 Relevant Ward Ickenham and South Harefield Details of Decision Taken Decision The Chief Officer agrees to: 1. The temporary closure to the public of Uxbridge Golf Course from Tuesday 14th February 2025 Reason for decision A decline in player numbers during the past year, further hampered by consistently wet weather has resulted in the Uxbridge & Haste Hill Golf Courses operating at a financial loss to the Council. Further to this, a number of vacancies withi n the service has resulted in an over-spend of non-staffing costs as suppliers hav e been relied upon to carry out a shortfall in maintenance works to enable the courses to remain operational. The temporary closure of Uxbridge Golf Course is required in order to redeploy available staff to Haste Hill Course in order to avoid additional maintenance costs. Officers continue to work with advisors to seek a specialist golf operator for the courses. Alternative options considered and rejected The return on investment to carry out improvement works at the courses is considered high risk given the number of competitor courses within close proximity and the income from the courses over a three- year period. However, a specialis t operator would have the relevant experience to deliver the requi red improvements and therefore advisors have been appointed to progress this work. Chief Officer Decision Notice – 7 January 2025 Page 2 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk Factors taking into account The provision of golf courses is a non-statutory duty. A staff consultation has been initiated and employees are being supported by Human Resources. The course operates a Pay as you Play model, and therefore no memberships will be affected by this decision. The food and beverage outlet is currently leased to a private operator and access will not be restricted through the closure of the course. Report Author & Directorate Nicola Herbert – Director of Environment - Place Legal and Finance Comments Finance comments There is currently a projected overspend on the budget of £388k for this financial year This includes an underspend in staffing costs which relates to a number of vacant positions. However, this has resulted in an overspend in non-staffing costs as contractors have been utilised to enable vital course maintenance works to take place. Further overspends within the non-staffing budget primarily relate to the cost of machinery repairs as the current assets are reaching the point that they are beyond economic repair. The income pressure relates mainly to green fees. However, income from catering sales and equipment hire are also forecast below target due to the reduced number of customers. Finance Officer name and Title Rhys Harries – Finance Business Partner - Place Legal Comments The current Cabinet and Cabinet Member level decisions in this matter date from 9 November 2023 and 19 March 2024 and are concerned with appointing a private operator to run the coursed at a net nil cost (at worst) to the council. Officers are still in the process of seeking to implement those decisions, however provision of golf courses is not a statutory duty. As a discretionary service it is prudent to take steps to mitigate losses being incurred by the Council in the circumstances described. As a temporary operational expedient, the proposed action is within the authority of the Chief Officer’s delegations to ensure the effective day to day management of the services and budgets that she is responsible for, relevant cabinet members having been fully consulted. Legal considerations at this point include ensuring any impacts on staff and/or leaseholders are appropriatel y managed. Chief Officer Decision Notice – 7 January 2025 Page 3 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk If, by the end of 31 March 2025, the Chief Officer is of the view that she will be unable to implement the previous Cabinet decisions in this matter within a reasonably foreseeable period from that time, the matter should be returned to Cabinet for further consideration. Legal Officer Name and Title Daniel Dickinson – Head of Legal Services Appendices / report attached List here any appendices / reports e.g. tender evaluations or other documentation to be included in support of this decision Informal Cabinet Briefing – December 2024 Exempt Classification Not for Publication: The appendix report contains exempt in formation and is strictly not for public release That this report be declared as exem pt from publication as it involves the disclosure of information in accordance with Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A ) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), in that the report c ontains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) a nd that the public interest in withholdin g the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it. Cabinet Member & other Chief Officer consultation Name and Title of any other Chief Officer(s) you have consulted with and as per any delegation. Daniel Dickinson – Head of Legal Services (Monitoring Officer) Richard Ennis – Corporate Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) Name and Title of the Cabinet Member you have consulted, and as per any delegation Councillor Lavery – Cabinet Member for Community & Environment Chief Officer Decision Notice – 7 January 2025 Page 4 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk Any conflicts of interest declared by the Chief Officer making this decision and/or Cabinet Member who is consulted by the officer which relates to the decision - or if dispensation by the CEO was granted to them. N/A Authority for this decision Detail authority from Cabinet or under delegated authority in the Constitution / Officer Scheme of Delegations Paragraphs 1 and 3 of the General Delegations to the Chief Executive and Corporate/Executive Directors, Constitution, Chapter 12:- “To take any steps necessary for the day-to-day management and administration of any matters within the designated asea of responsibility and to take overall responsibility for the performance of their service area.” “To manage an y budget for which [they] have lead responsibility… ” 2. APPROVAL Formal approval by Chief Officer making the decision Signed ……………………………………Date 07.01.2025………….. Karrie Whelan – Corporate Director of Place