COUNCILLORS have rejected an appeal to hand over the running of Weymouth’s seafront chalets to the community.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s management committee heard today that a cross-party working group recommended rejecting a bid by Greenhill Community Asset Management (GCAM) due to concerns that repairs and maintenance would be carried out entirely by volunteers and that ‘significant assumptions’ had been made in how GCAM would raise money.

Presenting the report, Cllr Colin Huckle, briefholder for finance and assets, said the working group had unanimously decided to recommend the bid be rejected.

He added: “We decided we needed to look at it from a commercial point of view in house.”

But Cllr Ian Roebuck, who also sat on the working group, said his move to support the community group had been outvoted.

He also said the recommendations were ‘unclear’.

The committee heard an appeal from Cllr Gill Taylor who urged councillors to hand over control to GCAM.

She said: “There is a far stronger business case here than there was when control of the Pavilion was handed over to volunteers.”

But when the committee moved to debate the issue, Cllr Mike Goodman said there are differences between the Pavilion and the chalets.

He said: “This offer seems to fall short of that in that it’s a partnership deal where they can reduce outgoings through volunteer efforts and increase income. What they didn’t address is the risk to the council if the group falls apart and we know volunteer groups do have a tendency over time to fall gradually away.”

But Cllr Christine James said: “We have messed a vital group of people around and I do not think we should keep doing that. Sometimes we belittle the general public in Weymouth and Portland.”

Chairing the meeting, Cllr Mike Byatt disagreed with Cllr James’ comment.

“We do appreciate and respect the efforts of the community groups that have come forward.”

He added: “We all recognise that we have to make decisions based on the financial climate we are operating in. What’s being proposed is a detailed report in March which will put flesh on the bones as to how it will all work.”

The recommendations were approved on a majority vote.

The borough council will maintain ownership and management of the chalets and they will be leased under a number of different terms, including short term and weekly, seasonal lets.

A more detailed report by officers is set to be put back in front of councillors in March.

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