Any ‘keep open’ clause in the deal between Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital to get the Oasis leisure centre rebuilt and reopened won’t be made available to councillors, and the public, for scrutiny.
The council’s Labour administration amended a Conservative motion which would have meant any such clause was made available, at least to councillors, within days.
The motion said: "The Oasis Leisure Centre previously had a specific "Keep Open" clause within its agreement between Swindon Borough Council, as freeholder, and the site tenants.
"The council is concerned that the November cabinet report selling the Oasis to Seven Capital contained no details of any "keep open" clause and no wording on a “keep open” clause exists for members to review and approve.”
Its proposer Councillor Dan Adams said: "We all know the excitement of going to the Oasis for the first time. This deal between the administration and Seven Capital might be a short-term win, if it goes wrong the Oasis could be lost forever.
“None of us want that."
Cllr Adams added that he wanted to see the new Oasis include a sports hall: “We need a like-for-like replacement, not the piecemeal deal we now see.”
Seconding the motion Councillor Jake Chandler said: “There is no evidence that a keep open clause exists. We had assurances there was one. If there is one, we need to see it.”
The Labour group introduced its own amendment to the motion, which said: “The Oasis Leisure Centre previously had a specific "Keep Open" clause within its agreement between Swindon Borough Council, as freeholder, and the site tenants. Despite this clause, the Oasis subsequently closed, as did Highworth Golf Course.”
It removed the stipulation that a keep open clause be made available but did say: “The council recognises the significant concerns from the public about the removal of the sports hall, and its use as a music venue" and it mandates a report to cabinet on how a replacement can be brought forward.
Leader of the council Councillor Jim Robbins said: “Councillor Adams wants a like-for-like replacement. There is a reason the Oasis is closed. Operators couldn’t make it work.
“We want the new one open in 2026 and we want it to stay open for as long as possible after that, another 50 years.”
He said the council had to work with Seven Capital as it had a lease for 99 years granted by the council in 2014 and added: “This is the only viable path to getting the Oasis open again.”
The amended motion was adopted with Labour votes outnumbering Conservatives votes against.
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