Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) has announced the sale of the South Cerney Recreation Centre to Prospects. The Centre provides boating experiences on a large lake for young people as well as more mature members of the public in a safe, supervised environment.

GCC decided to sell the site and the business due to the nationwide financial constraints compelling it to make substantial savings over the next four years. GCC will concentrate its resources on provision of services for the young and elderly members of our society.

Disposal of County assets or reorganisation of public services often arouse public dismay — witness the campaign against the new library strategy. But as GCC resources are reduced concentration on statutory on-demand services, where there is real and visible need, is inevitable.

Prospects is a well-established nationwide organisation that specialises in working with government departments and local authorities. It is a well-financed organisation structured much like John Lewis. It has worked with GCC in the provision of youth services in Gloucestershire and has sponsored our first academy. Staff interests have been protected and Prospects will invest a £500,000 to enhance the business and bring on new services. There will be little or no interruption in service.

This development is a win for the community, for users of the facility, for the staff and for the business.

Still in the Cotswold Water Park (CWP), after six months Graham Garbutt has issued his independent review of complaints about the way an approval for a sub-letting was granted by GCC to Cotswolds Water Park Society as tenant by GCC as freeholder.

He also examined charges of a conspiracy of malpractice and even malfeasance on the part of GCC officials and members. His full report can be seen on GCC website.

Although Mr Garbutt had plenty of suggestions about tightening of GCC administrative procedures, the handling of complaints and improvements in governance, he found no evidence that GCC was involved in secret side agreements. There is also no evidence to support allegations of a conspiracy linked to Freemasonry and no evidence suggesting impropriety by members of that society.

Mr Garbutt goes out of his way to say that after six months investigation his dominant impression of GCC staff is that of a group of diligent professional public servants working in an increasingly challenging environment.

This will not satisfy the conspiracy theorists. After probes by the police, the ombudsman, the Audit Commission, CDC and now Mr Garbutt into activities of public authorities within the CWP, none has come up with evidence of illegal actions. They are still convinced otherwise and are now awaiting the results of a further police enquiry to prove them right. Watch this space.

Raymond Theodoulou

Cllr Raymond Theodoulou represents East Cotswold on Gloucestershire Councty Council and is the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change