The debate over the Oasis Leisure Centre returned to full council this week, with opposition councillors accusing Labour of dragging their feet on the cross-party task group – only for the administration to reveal that the group has already met.
In July, councillors agreed that a cross-party group would be created to involve elected members from across the chamber. Labour, as the majority group, set September as the starting point.
Cllr Dale Heenan, speaking during the July meeting, suggested that delays were inevitable and that no meeting would be arranged until the autumn. As of the morning of Monday 22nd September, it appeared his warning might prove correct. Both he and Cllr Gary Sumner criticised the council for what they described as a lack of urgency, with Cllr Heenan even challenging the administration to schedule a first meeting on Tuesday evening.
However, by that point, the first meeting of the Oasis Cross-Party Member Advisory Group (CMAG) had already taken place. Labour’s Cllr Kevin Small, Lead Member for Finance, confirmed it was held at 5pm on 22nd September, with invitations issued earlier in the month on 8th September.
Membership of the CMAG includes ward councillors Jim Grant, Ana Fernandes and Sudha Sri Nukana, alongside Cllr Small himself. To honour the cross-party commitment, Cllr Adam Poole (Liberal Democrat) and Cllr Matt Lodge (Independent) were also invited.
Cllr Small dismissed Conservative criticism as “desperate attempts at headlines” and stressed that the group had begun work as promised. Meetings are private and confidential, meaning minutes are not published, but the administration insists the group is a genuine step forward in tackling the future of the Oasis.
While opposition figures continue to press for quicker progress, the council maintains that work is now underway and that restoring the Oasis remains firmly on the agenda.
