North Yorkshire Council

Richmond (Yorks) Area Committee

15 September 2025

Receipt of petition to save Richmond Swimming Pool from closure

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive - Legal and Democratic Services

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To advise of a petition containing more than 500 signatures.

1.2 To ask the Area Committee to consider a response.

2.0 THE PETITION

2.1 A combined paper and electronic petition has been received by North Yorkshire Council. The total number of signatories on the petition is 3165. Although a small proportion of these are invalid, since they do not live, work or study in North Yorkshire and surrounding areas based on postcodes within a reasonable distance of the county, the number of valid signatories exceeds 500. This means that in accordance with the petitions scheme, the petition is referred to the next meeting of the relevant area committee for consideration.

2.2 The petition reads as follows:

The Issue

Richmond swimming pool is under threat of closure.

My 7-year-old finds great joy in swimming at Richmond swimming pool. Lessons have given him so much confidence, and a new love of swimming.

He says, "It is great fun to learn to swim. I like the parents being able to watch from the cafe. It makes me feel like I'm very included in the swimming group. The teacher is really friendly and doesn't tell you off. My swimming has got much better. Without the swimming pool I would feel sad that I couldn't go to my swimming group."

Richmond swimming pool is not just about swimming; it’s about fostering community. It supports local jobs, brings people together, and helps reduce social isolation. With every swim session and lesson, bonds are strengthened, and friendships are forged in our community.

We understand the financial constraints, however, cutting off such an essential facility is not the right solution. We urge the local council to explore funding sources.

Please sign this petition to show your support to keep Richmond swimming pool open.

2.3 A copy of the petition is available on the Change.org website. Additional background information submitted with the paper petition is included at appendix A.

3.0 THE COUNCIL’S ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEIVING AND RESPONDING TO PETITIONS

3.1 The key features of the council’s arrangements for receiving and debating petitions, as published on the council’s website, are as follows:

· Receipt of the petition is published on the council’s website (which has been done in the case of this petition).

· If a petition contains 500 or more signatures (but less than 30,130 signatories), it will be scheduled for debate at the next meeting of the appropriate area committee.

· The petition organiser is offered the opportunity to speak for five minutes at the area committee meeting to present his/her petition. Subsequently, at the meeting, the petition will be discussed by councillors for a maximum of 15 minutes and a decision will be made on how to respond to the petition.

· Possible responses to petitions by the council are:

(a) to take the action requested by the petition

(b) not to take the action requested for reasons put forward in the debate

(d) where the issue is one on which the council Executive is required to make the final decision, the council will decide whether to make recommendations to inform that decision.

The petition organiser will receive written confirmation of this decision. This confirmation will also be published on the website.

In accordance with the arrangements described above, the petition organisers have been invited to join today’s meeting to present their petition.

4.0 RESPONSE FROM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CULTURE AND LEISURE SERVICES

4.1 The Assistant Director for Culture and Leisure Services has provided the following background information to assist the committee as they consider the issues raised in the petition

4.2 I fully understand that the current closure of the pool is causing considerable concern locally. To confirm the background to the current situation. The Richmond pool has been closed following a partial ceiling collapse. Initial investigations revealed the issues with the site were considerable and given the potential scale of the repair works required we wanted to take some time to consider and assess all possible options available for the site. This includes an assessment of current need, demand and performance, alongside further asset condition surveys to fully understand the picture. The impact of other facilities in the area and exploration of alternative options for reconfiguration and upgrading of the site will also be considered as well as any potential alternative uses of the site.

4.3 This assessment will also be considered in the context of wider work looking at potential investment decisions in leisure facilities, as part of the county wide leisure investment strategy work that is also underway, rather than taking an isolated view of the site.

4.4 This options appraisal work is ongoing, and I must stress that no decisions have yet been made. In terms of decision making, the options appraisal will be considered by members of the Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 23 September 2025. Members of the public are able to attend this meeting. This is not a decision-making committee but will be an opportunity for the proposals to be considered and Members to give feedback and make recommendations. Decisions on the Leisure Investment Strategy and the Richmond Options Appraisal will be made by the Council’s Executive, and this is provisionally scheduled for 18 November 2025.

4.5 I would also like to confirm that as part of the options appraisal we were very keen to hear the views of local residents and users of the pool. The response to the survey has been excellent with over 2,800 responses. The survey has been well publicised including:

· The link emailed to all users/members of the Richmond facility, including local clubs and schools.

· Paper copies have been available at various local facilities including the café, Liberty gym (which remains open) and the Station.

· Posted on the Active North Yorkshire - Richmond Facebook page and has so far been seen by over 80,000 people, it has also been posted on the Council Facebook page and received over 17,000 views.

· There has also been good local press coverage promoting the survey

4.6 The survey went live on 30 June, and it closed on 27 July to enable us to fully consider the responses so they can inform the ongoing options appraisal. Officers have also met with a local group concerned about potential closure and this feedback will also be considered. Given the level of response, we can have confidence that the views expressed will be a fair reflection of local feeling and this is an important part of the options appraisal process.

5.0 COMMENTS ON THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS

5.1 The petition requests that the Council does not close Richmond Swimming Pool, dependant on the outcomes of the options appraisal.

As set out at 3.1 d), there are four options available to Members:

a) Option 1: That the Richmond (Yorks) Area Committee supports the request to keep Richmond Swimming Pool open.

b) Option 2: Not to take the action requested for reasons put forward in the debate.

c) Option 3: To commission further investigation into the matter, for example by a relevant committee. This is not an option as the Richmond Options Appraisal is ongoing and is provisionally scheduled for consideration by the Council’s Executive on18 November 2025

d) Option 4: The Richmond (Yorks) Area Committee can prepare a report to the decision maker, with recommendations to inform the decision.

5.2 The Committee also has the option to note the report and take no further action.

6.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

6.1 None identified.

7.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1 None identified.

8.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

8.1 None identified.

9.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

9.1 None identified.

5.0

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee notes the petition and considers a response:

(a) to take the action requested by the petition

(b) not to take the action requested for reasons put forward in the debate

(d) where the issue is one on which the council Executive is required to make the final decision, the council will decide whether to make recommendations to inform that decision.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:

North Yorkshire Council’s petitions information

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

County Hall

Northallerton

Report Author – Nicki Lishman, Senior Democratic Services Officer

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.