1) Question to the Leader of the Council – Asked by Tahir Butt
NG5 area is one of the Biggest in Nottinghamshire. So, we believe the Arnold should also get the Tram link to town. Tram would help people of Arnold from all ages, connected areas and will also increase businesses opportunities means more jobs. What is your thought about this?
2) Question to the Portfolio Holder for Health, Lifestyles and Wellbeing – Asked by John Allen
Why are you considering spending vast sums of ratepayers’ money moving leisure facilities to The Richard Herod Centre when it’s such a difficult place to get to from Arnold by Public Transport?
3) Question to the Leader of the Council – Asked by Ronald Maddison
Why does Gedling council constantly only consider what is good for Arnold and the other areas under the councils’ umbrella are the poor neighbours?
4) Question to the Portfolio Holder for Health, Lifestyles and Wellbeing – Asked by Jim Vernon
In light of the significant public concern, packed community protest meetings, and growing confusion surrounding the future of the Richard Herrod Centre site, the public require information on the following concerns:
1. Discussions or decisions which may have, or have not taken place – formally or informally – about ending or not renewing the Richard Herrod Bowling Club’s lease
2. Steps the Council has taken to honour its own transparency commitments during the Max Associates consultation and any emerging redevelopment plans
3. Whether the Council is prepared to pause any decisions relating to the site or the bowling club until full public scrutiny, including site-specific proposals and leaseholder impacts, have been debated openly
The bowling club is a well-established community institution, run by volunteers, with deep roots in the borough. Many residents – including vulnerable pensioners – are now fearful they are being pushed out to make way for something they have never been properly consulted on.
Will the Council finally acknowledge this and commit to a fair, inclusive process before taking any irrevocable steps — or must concerned residents now begin preparing a formal call for an official investigation into the consultation process and treatment of leaseholders?
Minutes:
Four questions were received from members of the public and two of the questioners were in attendance to ask their questions. The questions and answers were as follows:
1) Question to the Leader of the Council – Read by Mike Hill on behalf of Tahir Butt
NG5 area is one of the Biggest in Nottinghamshire. So, we believe the Arnold should also get the Tram link to town. Tram would help people of Arnold from all ages, connected areas and will also increase businesses opportunities means more jobs. What is your thought about this?
Response from Councillor Clarke:
Thank you for your question.
This Council has always supported the extension of the tram into Gedling, but unfortunately it is not within our control to do so.
The tram system is owned by Nottingham City Council and is operated and maintained by Nottingham Trams Ltd. In March of this year there was an announcement that the new East Midlands Mayor has provided £300,000 to commission a study into extending the NET network, with one option to extend into Gedling.
We very much support this, but realistically this could take many more years before we see anything on the ground. I will add that I am part of the NET board, as is Cllr Hollingsworth, and neither of us have been notified of the meetings that have taken place despite several requests to do so. I have also challenged this at county hall, as a county councillor, to try get and get us there as we know this would be a tremendous support to the people of Gedling and would boost our local economy.
2) Question to the Portfolio Holder for Health, Lifestyles and Wellbeing – Asked by John Allen
Why are you considering spending vast sums of ratepayers’ money moving leisure facilities to The Richard Herod Centre when it’s such a difficult place to get to from Arnold by Public Transport?
Response from Councillor Clarke:
Our Leisure Strategy, the Strategic Outcomes Planning Model, has recommended the Council should consider two new sites when planning its leisure provision for years to come. This has been based on an analysis of current site age and maintenance liabilities, the performance of existing sites, and local population and market analysis. The Cabinet has agreed to consider feasibility work for both a new site in Carlton and a new site in Arnold.
The current priority for investment is a new Carlton site at the Richard Herrod Centre. This is based on the following:
Carlton Forum is our biggest leisure centre site supporting the wellbeing of residents across the wider area. In 2024/25 it had:
The risk of potential closure due to the age of the building would have a significant impact on Council finances, and the health and wellbeing of thousands of residents, so we have made the decision to prioritise our plans for developing new provision in the Carlton area.
As we consider our plans for a new Carlton site, we will use the development as an opportunity to advocate for better public transport options from across the Borough to the site. This will involve promoting the need for improved transport to the south of the Borough with our partners such as the East Midlands Combined County Authority Mayor.
We are still developing longer-term plans for leisure provision in Arnold through the Ambition Arnold regeneration programme. And of course, our sites at Arnold Leisure Centre and Redhill Leisure Centre remain open to the public.
3) Question to the Leader of the Council – Read by Mike Hill on behalf of Ronald Maddison
Why does Gedling council constantly only consider what is good for Arnold and the other areas under the councils’ umbrella are the poor neighbours?
Response from Councillor Clarke:
Thank you for your question.
This Council is proud of all towns and villages within the Gedling boundary. The Council provides a wide array of services that impact on daily life for all its residents. These include waste management, street cleaning, planning, environmental protection, licensing, parks and open spaces, and so much more.
In terms of major investment, the Council does what it can to invest in the borough. Recent examples include:
- Calverton, where we have spent £1.5 million to provide further business start-up units at Hill Crest Business Park.
- Carlton, where plans have been launched to provide a new multi-million-pound leisure and wellbeing facility.
- Lambley Lane changing room and pitch renovation.
- Conway Road Tennis Court refurbishment.
- Play area investment across the borough.
- the Shared Prosperity Fund, where £2.8 million has been spent widely across the borough, including a £100,000 contribution to Calverton Miners Welfare to facilitate the construction of a new 3G pitch.
- Shared Prosperity Funding has also provided targeted expenditure in the parished areas of Bestwood, Burton Joyce, Colwick, Newstead, Ravenshead, and St Albans, on top of borough-wide grants to support Local Business and further investment in People and Skills.
- A Government grant award of £20 million for the Greater Carlton Plan for Neighbourhoods which will be spent in the southern area of the borough over the next 10 years.
- All of this builds on the success of our award-winning Gedling Country Park which we are immensely proud of as a Council.
So, in answer to your question, I believe that this Council tries its best to support all areas of the borough equally.
4) Question to the Portfolio Holder for Health, Lifestyles and Wellbeing – Asked by Jim Vernon
In light of the significant public concern, packed community protest meetings, and growing confusion surrounding the future of the Richard Herrod Centre site, the public require information on the following concerns:
1. Discussions or decisions which may have, or have not taken place – formally or informally – about ending or not renewing the Richard Herrod Bowling Club’s lease
2. Steps the Council has taken to honour its own transparency commitments during the Max Associates consultation and any emerging redevelopment plans
3. Whether the Council is prepared to pause any decisions relating to the site or the bowling club until full public scrutiny, including site-specific proposals and leaseholder impacts, have been debated openly
The bowling club is a well-established community institution, run by volunteers, with deep roots in the borough. Many residents – including vulnerable pensioners – are now fearful they are being pushed out to make way for something they have never been properly consulted on.
Will the Council finally acknowledge this and commit to a fair, inclusive process before taking any irrevocable steps — or must concerned residents now begin preparing a formal call for an official investigation into the consultation process and treatment of leaseholders?
Response from Councillor Clarke:
Thank you for your question.
As regards what discussions have taken place:
The Council has been in dialogue with Gedling Indoor Bowls Club Committee for the past year and the lease arrangements have been discussed. The Bowls Club’s current lease with the Council runs until 26 April 2026. A request from the Bowls Club Committee has been made to the Council for a new lease beyond April 2026, however the Club has been informed that this is currently not possible, while the Council considers its pre-construction feasibility planning for a new leisure and wellbeing facility on the Richard Herrod site.
Plans are being developed, and this will include a business case for the new development. This work should be completed by January 2026. It is imperative that a robust business case is established before Cabinet makes a decision to proceed with the development. Should that business case be agreed early next year, construction preparation work could commence on site from Spring 2026.
Therefore, the Council cannot currently commit to a lease beyond April 2026.
It is acknowledged that this may cause uncertainty for the Bowls Club and its members. The Council is committed to give clarity to the Bowls Club on the future direction of the site as early as it can do, during 2025. After which it will continue to work alongside the Bowls Club to consider future options.
As regards the consultation:
Max Associates are consultants that compiled the Council’s Strategic Outcomes Planning Model during 2023, and the findings of this work was reported publicly to Cabinet in November 2023 and July 2024.
Consultation informed this work, which comprised of a public survey with over 600 responses, as well as 27 stakeholder consultations and 4 specific focus groups. There was additional engagement with local stakeholders, partners, sports clubs and National Governing Bodies for Sport. Both Gedling Indoor Bowls Club and England Indoor Bowls Association were consulted at that time and their feedback considered by the consultants.
The consultants recommended as part of the Strategy that the Council should consult further with Gedling Indoor Bowls Club to discuss a possible reduction in number of rinks at Richard Herrod Centre from 6 to 3.
In July 2024 Cabinet agreed to undertake pre-construction feasibility planning for a new Carlton Leisure and Community Wellbeing Centre and consult further with the public and stakeholders regarding its leisure transformation plans.
Since April 2025, the Council has been working with consultants Alliance Leisure to move forward with its feasibility planning. The Council does not have the internal expertise or capacity to undertake this work alone. This involves:
· Reviewing the Strategic Outcomes Planning Model to ensure its evidence base is up to date - Max Associates will again be undertaking this.
· Public survey to which over 1,500 responses have been received.
· 20 separate stakeholder and community meetings seeking the views of local people and partners on a new leisure and wellbeing facility at Richard Herrod Centre.
· This has included two consultation meetings specifically for members of Gedling Indoor Bowls Club in June, at which attendees made it clear their preference was 6 rinks not 3.
· Consulting with National Governing Bodies for Sport and other strategic partners.
The insight gathered by both the Strategy review and the widespread community and stakeholder engagement would be used to inform a revised proposed layout for the new centre. It is expected that Cabinet will consider these plans in the Autumn.
As regards the bowls club:
The Council recognises the role Gedling Indoor Bowls Club has played over many years and the work it continues to do to offer indoor bowls to its users. This recognition has been influential in the support the Council has offered the Bowls Club since the Covid-19 pandemic.
This has included Covid-19 business support and re-start grants totalling £34,600 and Cabinet decisions agreeing to offer a significantly reduced rent to support the Club’s finances during 2021 to 2024. This follows requests during that time from the Bowls Club for additional support to help manage their finances. The Club also benefits from 100% business case relief, agreed by the Council.
As part of the current consultation process, 2 focus groups were organised by the Council at Richard Herrod Centre specifically for Gedling Indoor Bowls Club members to attend on 23 June.
Over 200 people attended the 2 focus groups at which the context and proposals for the feasibility work planned for a new site were presented and an opportunity given for participants to share their thoughts, ideas and concerns with the Council about what facilities a new centre at Richard Herrod centre site might have.
The notes were recorded by Council officers and the Bowls Club Committee has also submitted to the Council a list of questions and comments raised at the focus groups, and afterwards, by its members and supporters. This feedback will be considered as we move forward with our proposals, alongside our wider engagement across the community. The Council continues to meet regularly with the Bowls Club Committee and will share proposals with them as they are developed further. The Council is also engaging with England Indoor Bowls Association to understand the future business case for indoor bowls in Gedling.