Green Party councillors on Exeter City Council have challenged the Labour
administration over its handling of the proposed closure of Northbrook Swimming Pool,
[1], citing a failure to consult properly, assess equality impacts in time, and justify the
financial logic behind the plan.
The proposed closure was embedded in the Council’s February budget, but no formal
Executive decision has yet been made. A public consultation was only held after the
decision was internally communicated, and no Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was in
place at the time the closure was first announced.
Cllr Andy Ketchin said:
“We’re deeply concerned that Labour councillors are treating consultation and
equality assessments as procedural afterthoughts. This isn’t just about a pool—
it’s about whether residents can trust the Council to follow its own rules.”
The Green Councillors are calling for:
● The publication of the full Equalities Impact Assessment and all financial
evaluations used to justify the closure
● A commitment to pause implementation until proper scrutiny has taken place
● A re-evaluation of alternative options, working with local stakeholders, that
would keep Northbrook open and financially sustainable [2]
Cllr Wetenhall added:
“There’s a growing sense that this decision was stitched into the budget process
without proper scrutiny or public involvement. Exeter residents deserve
transparency—not decisions made behind closed doors, with consultations that
come too late to influence outcomes.”
A petition signed by more than 2,200 residents [2] has triggered a Full Council debate
on 10 June, ahead of the final decision expected at the Executive’s meeting on 24 June.
The Green councillors will use the 10 June debate to call for openness and compliance
with Article 12 of the Council’s Constitution, which requires that all decisions are made
with transparency, proper consultation, and consideration of equalities, legal and
financial implications.
“This is a test of integrity for Exeter City Council’s Labour administration,” said
Cllr Ketchin, “Residents want answers—and Greens will keep pushing until they
get them.”
Ends
Notes
1. Consultation on Exeter’s Northbrook Swimming Pool – Exeter City Council News
2. The Progressive Group (Green Party and Liberal Democrat) proposed an
amendment in their Alternative Budget proposals in February to “undertake a leisure
services review to protect leisure services from closure.”
3. E-petition on closure of the pool
Contact:
Cllr Andy Ketchin – cllr.andy.ketchin@exeter.gov.uk 07931068710 or
Cllr Lynn Wetenhall – cllr.lynn.wetenhall@exeter.gov.uk 07482 576945