Thames Community Board News Briefs

New Chair and Deputy for Thames Community Board

Strat Peters appointed Chairperson of the Thames Community Board

Thames Community Board elected former councillor Strat Peters as Chairperson and Lester Yates as Deputy Chairperson at its inaugural post-election meeting.

Strat Peters was nominated by Thames JP and newly elected Community Board Member, Mark Bridgeman and seconded by another new member, Justine Baverstock.

Similarly, Members Baverstock and Bridgeman respectively nominated and seconded the appointment of Lester Yates as Deputy Chairperson.

With no other nominations, Mr Peters' and Yates' nominations were unanimous.

Workshop to determine TCB delegations

Portfolios viewed as less effective than sub-committees

Thames Community Board made one delegation and decided in favour of a workshop to discuss the remaining Community Board delegations at its inaugural November meeting.

Mark Bridgeman JP was appointed the Board's delegated member for comment on planning matters, new leases and renewal of leases.

However, for the remaining delegations, rather than choosing to merely continue the previous Community Board's portfolio system of delegation, the new Board will investigate the possibility of sub-committees before determining which method it will use.

The workshop will be held before the Board's meeting next Monday to enable a final decision to be made at that meeting.

Thames Community Board backs pool success

Consistent pool temperature one factor in popularity of swimming programmes

An expanded Aquatic Training programme has received the backing of the incoming Thames Community Board.

The Board was told that following the installation of a wood-fired heating system at the Thames Centennial Pool, consistent water temperatures and high-quality instruction has seen a leap in the numbers of Learn-to-swim class participants and an opportunity to provide a transition to squad training.

Thames Swim Club's Mark McDowell joined Pool Manager Paul Dufty at the Board's inaugural 15 November meeting to provide the Board with the rationale for an expanded Aquatic Training programme coach.

The position would be self-funded and contribute to yet further growth of the swim programmes.

Board Chairperson Strat Peters said the case was already in the Activity Plan but the Board is thrilled to hear the growth and possibilities. "It's about growing the programmes and consolidating the phenomenal recent success of the popular Learn-to-swim programme and the Thames Swimming Club."

"We are thrilled to give our backing to this positive direction."

Intention to develop Rhodes Park Master Plan deferred

Collaborative strategic master plan for Rhodes Park to be discussed at workshop

Unfamiliarity of new Board Members was behind the decision of the new Thames Community Board to defer affirming the previous Thames Community Board's intention to develop a collaborative master plan for Rhodes Park.

New Community Board Chairperson, Strat Peters said "We would like the collaborative strategic master plan to incorporate facilities for all the sporting codes, grandstand development and Council's new aquatic and indoor sporting facilities.

The concept will be discussed at an as-yet-unscheduled workshop to bring new Community Board Members and Thames councillors who are on the Community Board up-to-date before any future decisions are made.

ENDS

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