By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

The process which has led to recommending the sale of Woodmill Activities Centre has been labelled “fundamentally flawed”.

 A member of a Southampton conservation group hit out at how the city council had worked through the proposals for the Swaythling centre, by Riverside Park.

Cabinet members are expected to approve proposals to sell the Stoneham side of the site to Southern Water, who would in turn transfer the leisure area to Southampton City Scouts by freehold.

The Mill building would be retained by the council, with current tenant Above Board (Solent) Ltd taking on a new lease.

Ahead of the cabinet decision on Tuesday, July 15, the plan was examined at an overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday, July 10.

The committee was told Southern Water is planning to invest a significant amount of money into the natural environment, which includes a section of the River Itchen with Sites of Special Scientific Interest designation.

However, frustrations were voiced over a lack of information on the utility company’s proposals.

The Scouts had provided a detailed document on their vision for Woodmill but this was confidential and could only be viewed by committee members.

Gavin Miller from Friends of Itchen Estuary said: “It’s clear that the process leading to a recommendation Woodmill is sold is fundamentally flawed.

“It hasn’t paid sufficient attention to nature restoration, environment, biodiversity and it has been a secretive process, which is undemocratic and doesn’t tap into the valuable experience and expertise in Southampton.”

Council bosses were questioned over the published papers on the proposal, which focused on the leisure aspect more than environmental considerations.

Officers said the environment was part of the criteria considered when assessing bids and the sale of the site would include legal agreements, such as covenants, to provide protections.

Concerns were also raised about Southern Water’s record, a lack of engagement with those who live near Woodmill and why a long-term lease was not explored in favour of a freehold disposal.

Cabinet member for compliance and leisure Cllr Toqeer Kataria, left,  said the preference initially was for a leasehold arrangement but the recommended option was the best outcome from the bids received.

Cllr Kataria said the activities centre had “untapped potential” but it needed the “right people with the right experience” to unlock it.

In response to a suggestion the council was selling off the family silver, director of customer, leisure and regulatory services James Marshall said: “We see this as the city’s silver, not necessarily the council’s silver and we are all out of silver polish unfortunately, so we are not in the position to look after it.

“We are trying to get the right outcome for the environment there.”

Cabinet member for finance and corporate services Cllr Simon Letts said the plan from the Scouts was backed by a “plethora of environmental organisations”.

“The evidence before us suggests that this is a solid decision for the city, setting aside the finances and the finances stack up significantly in its favour as well,” Cllr Letts said.

“Principally because of the lack necessity for this council to invest the people’s money directly into this scheme and the multi-million-pounds worth of money we would be saving by proceeding with this proposal.”

He added: “I do not want to delay this any longer.

“There is an element of trust here that we have got all the information and therefore we are making a decision based on all of that information.”

Members of the overview and scrutiny committee narrowly voted against recommending cabinet delay its decision to carry out a public consultation.

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