Save Rumney Recreation Ground & Eastern Leisure Centre

Councillor, Ralph Cook, established the grounds on which to “call-in” the Council's decision. He made his presentation to the Children & Young Children's Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 12^th January. 150 residents attended this public meeting. The Scrutiny Committee were not provided with full information regarding the land in question and initially were not even given a map of the area concerned. For the most part, they had very little or no knowledge of the grounds or area in question. Council Officers were, on occasions, unable to provide information when asked to provide evidence. One of the Committee members left the meeting before the end of the meeting, in order to attend another meting. On taking a final vote, the Scrutiny Committee voted 5-4 against us and in favour of the proposal.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, residents were appalled at the way the proceedings were handled. We have been subsequently advised, and we are, as yet, not sure how true this is, that members of the public had the right to speak to and ask questions of the Scrutiny Committee, but we were advised by the Chairman of the Committee, before the meeting began, that we could not do so at that meeting. The residents present had far greater knowledge of the area than the Officers who had been called to present evidence and could have provided extremely important evidence on this matter, had they been allowed to do so. Residents believed that the Scrutiny Committee, who are supposed to be impartial, had merely voted on Party lines.