Swimming pool funds

[hotrod4]

Read in the groat about how the Wick pool is a community pool.
In the article it stated that the community raised £30,000 towards the cost.(maybe it was a mis-print?)
I remember being a kid and passing the Town hall in the 70's and 80's and seeing on the notice board how much the people of Wick had raised. I remember it being a rather larger figure than £30k.
Maybe I missed something a few years ago, but what happened to that money? Hope someone can enlighten me, as I have asked a few people and they remember it larger as well but dont know what happened to it.

[Bill Fernie]

As I understand it the figure was around £30,000 that had been collected many years before the pool was eventually built. The Highland council put in about £1 million and there were one or two other smaller funds also added such as the Wick Rotary. Maybe over the years the cost of the pool has been attributed to the funds raised rather than just an addition to the much larger council imput.

The collection had been going on for several years and then collections slowed down to a halt and the money sat in an account controlled by the late councillor Andy Murray and his committee.

Although the collections were porbably never going to be enough they probably did keep the project on someone's list of things to get done in Wick.

Now with things like the Hi-Life card for individuals and families you can swim in Wick at relatively low cost. the Hi-life card allows access to facilties all over Highland as well as your local one. The Aquadome in Inverness with its flumes and wave machine is great fun for the kids and you do not have to pay anything for entry if you already have the Hi-life card.

[hotrod4]

As I understand it the figure was around £30,000 that had been collected many years before the pool was eventually built. The Highland council put in about £1 million and there were one or two other smaller funds also added such as the Wick Rotary. Maybe over the years the cost of the pool has been attributed to the funds raised rather than just an addition to the much larger council imput.

The collection had been going on for several years and then collections slowed down to a halt and the money sat in an account controlled by the late councillor Andy Murray and his committee.

Although the collections were porbably never going to be enough they probably did keep the project on someone's list of things to get done in Wick.

Now with things like the Hi-Life card for individuals and families you can swim in Wick at relatively low cost. the Hi-life card allows access to facilties all over Highland as well as your local one. The Aquadome in Inverness with its flumes and wave machine is great fun for the kids and you do not have to pay anything for entry if you already have the Hi-life card.

Thanks for the reply, but it still doesnt explain where all the money that was raised went.
If it was public money that was raised by the public then surely there is a way where we can see the actual money raised etc?
If you could furnish me with a way that I can see the "books" then that would put my mind at ease as I know it was alot more that 30k that was raised by the people of wick.
As it was money raised by the public surely it is legal for the "public" to see the actual records?.
its not the cost of swimming that I asked about its the wherabouts of the "kitty" that I am interested in!

[Cattach]

Thanks for the reply, but it still doesnt explain where all the money that was raised went.
If it was public money that was raised by the public then surely there is a way where we can see the actual money raised etc?
If you could furnish me with a way that I can see the "books" then that would put my mind at ease as I know it was alot more that 30k that was raised by the people of wick.
As it was money raised by the public surely it is legal for the "public" to see the actual records?.
its not the cost of swimming that I asked about its the wherabouts of the "kitty" that I am interested in!

You are quite correct to ask Hotrod4. Over a few decades under Highland Council in its various guises and name changes money was absorbed in igger but less traceable and less accountable pots. In Caithness we had many bequest made for pupils in schools in the county which just 'disappeared' as far as the public were concerned. now, of course, in some case the schools closed but that should just have meant that the equest followed the areas pupils to the school they were rezoned for at the time of closure. I was part of the fund-raising in Wick for a time for a swimming pool and I just do not know what was donne with the money.

We all know that Highland Council, better known as Inverness Council and surrounding area has drawn the life blood from the Highlands. No amount of protest from councillors will hide the fact that they enjoy travelling to Inverness getting their snouts in the trough. And of course shopping is cheaper and they do not need to buy fuel at Caithness prices!

[joxville]

You are quite correct to ask Hotrod4. Over a few decades under Highland Council in its various guises and name changes money was absorbed in igger but less traceable and less accountable pots. In Caithness we had many bequest made for pupils in schools in the county which just 'disappeared' as far as the public were concerned. now, of course, in some case the schools closed but that should just have meant that the equest followed the areas pupils to the school they were rezoned for at the time of closure. I was part of the fund-raising in Wick for a time for a swimming pool and I just do not know what was donne with the money.

We all know that Highland Council, better known as Inverness Council and surrounding area has drawn the life blood from the Highlands. No amount of protest from councillors will hide the fact that they enjoy travelling to Inverness getting their snouts in the trough. And of course shopping is cheaper and they do not need to buy fuel at Caithness prices!

Doesn't matter where they buy their fuel, they can claim it back in expense's. I'm surprised they don't use a taxi so that they are not stressed having to drive themselves.

[Cattach]

Doesn't matter where they buy their fuel, they can claim it back in expense's. I'm surprised they don't use a taxi so that they are not stressed having to drive themselves.

In a sense you correct but actually it does matter where they buy their fuel. Any money leaving the county is a loss and, of course, money lost has an effect on the employment of people. The less well paid who have to work at the pumps must have a trunover to keep their jobs. I am not so concerned by the garage owners as those employed.

Just think about hoqw much money Highland Council employees and councillors spend in Inverness. Jobs are moving to the Inverness area all the time. Those salaries, amounting to millions in total, are paid and spent in Inverness. It is all money lost to the loal eonomy.

[peter macdonald]

Cattach I always find it funny that in the days of video conferencing all these guys have to travel to attend meetings instead of doing from their local area A bit like Gordon Brown et all flying to the far east to tell us about global warming

PM

[gollach]

I guess it depends whether they have to claim the value of their petrol receipts or if they get a set mileage rate.

I don't think the rate for council employees covers cost of petrol anymore :(

[jimag]

Have we not lost this thread already. Mr Fernie side stepped the issue very nicely. The amount collected locally is not the issue. Mr Fernie's statement in the Jo'G Journal refers to the amount put in by Highland Council. He forgets that it is OUR money and he and his officials are there to manage it on our behalf. Just because it is considerably more than the voluntary contributions does not give them the right to pull rank.

[hotrod4]

I do feel this thread has moved away from the point.
I am still waiting for someone (hopefully a councillor) to answer me where all the raised money went and how we as members of the public can view the accounts?

As councillors and council officials are answerable to the public why cant I get the info.
Maybe it was used for another purpose without us mere mortals being consulted?

I wait with baited breath ;)

[COACHMAN]

Put a request to HRC quoting the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT about the funds if they do not answer you it can be reported to the Information commisioner.
They have up to 28 days to reply to any request.

[blackcat]

Put a request to HRC quoting the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT about the funds if they do not answer you it can be reported to the Information commisioner.
They have up to 28 days to reply to any request.

This is the link

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/accesstoinformation/freedomofinformation/

[Venture]

This is the link

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/accesstoinformation/freedomofinformation/

Would it not have been Caithness District Council then. HRC may well come back and say it was before Highland Council came into being so nothing to do with them. Just a thought.

[Tubthumper]

Perhaps a bit off-post, but does anyone have any idea what's happened to the Wick Academy Development Fund? I contributed to this in the hope of seeing top-class sports facilities in Wick and they haven't materialised yet.

[Venture]

Perhaps a bit off-post, but does anyone have any idea what's happened to the Wick Academy Development Fund? I contributed to this in the hope of seeing top-class sports facilities in Wick and they haven't materialised yet.

This link can let you see how much money is in the fund and who to get in touch with if you want any information.

http://www.oscr.org.uk/CharityIndexDetails.aspx?id=SC032787

[Tubthumper]

Golly, the fund's earned around £20k a year! That means there's quite a bit of cash in the bank for the benefit of the inhabitants of Wick.
Any idea of the type of endeavour which has successfully recieved money from this fund? Do they tend to dish out cash to sporting, youth-oriented or disabled groups?

[Venture]

Golly, the fund's earned around £20k a year! That means there's quite a bit of cash in the bank for the benefit of the inhabitants of Wick.
Any idea of the type of endeavour which has successfully recieved money from this fund? Do they tend to dish out cash to sporting, youth-oriented or disabled groups?

As far as I am aware no money has been paid out from the Development Fund to any local organisation. I certainly haven't heard of any or read about any in the local press. I thought the money was to be used to build a new sports stadium or something along that lines. Has anyone heard otherwise?

[hotrod4]

Put a request to HRC quoting the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT about the funds if they do not answer you it can be reported to the Information commisioner.
They have up to 28 days to reply to any request.

Thanks for that, have sent my request will post on here once i receive somthing back (hopefully ;))

[TBH]

A wee bit off topic but I thought this was quite interesting.
Highland.Gov (http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:kJ2wAKWfxH8J:www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/14365DC8-20BF-4972-8E1D-F8396B672982/0/wick.pdf+wick+swimming+pool+funds&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=uk&client=firefox-a)

Click the link at the top for the page in pdf format.

[Bill Fernie]

I do feel this thread has moved away from the point.
I am still waiting for someone (hopefully a councillor) to answer me where all the raised money went and how we as members of the public can view the accounts?

As councillors and council officials are answerable to the public why cant I get the info.
Maybe it was used for another purpose without us mere mortals being consulted?

I wait with baited breath ;)

Sorry but I was not a councilor back when the Wick Swimming Pool was on the go. Is it over 10 years ago now? Tax records etc are normally kept for up to six years so you may be too late to get hold of any actual documents, copies of accounts etc even if they would have been held by an existing group.

I think you will find it was not the council that was collecting funds for a pool but an independent charitable group set up for the purpose. Someone may be able to tell you but I expect the charity was wound up by the committee once they handed over any funds in connection with the pool at or around the time it was being built. The council would not hold any documents relating to the collection of such funds. That was the responsibility of the charity and as they have long since ceased there may not be anyone around who has the details. The late Councillor Murray was the chairman as I understand it but I do not know who else was on the committee. I expect all council records will show will be exactly how much was handed over and what it was spent on but not any other details.

[TBH]

Sorry but I was not a councilor back when the Wick Swimming Pool was on the go. Is it over 10 years ago now? Tax records etc are normally kept for up to six years so you may be too late to get hold of any actual documents, copies of accounts etc even if they would have been held by an existing group.

I think you will find it was not the council that was collecting funds for a pool but an independent charitable group set up for the purpose. Someone may be able to tell you but I expect the charity was wound up by the committee once they handed over any funds in connection with the pool at or around the time it was being built. The council would not hold any documents relating to the collection of such funds. That was the responsibility of the charity and as they have long since ceased there may not be anyone around who has the details. The late Councillor Murray was the chairman as I understand it but I do not know who else was on the committee. I expect all council records will show will be exactly how much was handed over and what it was spent on but not any other details.I doubt very much if Hotrod was accusing you personally of any impropriety. Going by what you say then there should be a shakeup in the system so that charitable donations to any organisation can be traced no matter how much time has elapsed. If this is the way things are done then there is no accountability and people that donate money leave themselves open to being fleeced with no tangible return on their donation.

[Bill Fernie]

There would be accountability if enough people attended the AGM's and meetings of charitable groups. You also need enough people to take on the posts to run the organisation. Accounts are always supposed to be made available on request to anyone who asks for them but how often does this happen.

[veritas]

I do feel this thread has moved away from the point.
I am still waiting for someone (hopefully a councillor) to answer me where all the raised money went and how we as members of the public can view the accounts?

As councillors and council officials are answerable to the public why cant I get the info.
Maybe it was used for another purpose without us mere mortals being consulted?

I wait with baited breath ;)

For information !!!

The Swimming Pool was built by Caithness District Council and opened before reorganisation Fact !! Nothing to do with Highland Council Fact !!
The money raised by the Swimming Club (Andy Murray) was used to fit out extras at the pool not included in the main building such as the cafeteria all with the agreement of the club members who were delighted to get the new pool fact !!
The money was spent where it should ahve been at the pool.

[hotrod4]

For information !!!

The Swimming Pool was built by Caithness District Council and opened before reorganisation Fact !! Nothing to do with Highland Council Fact !!
The money raised by the Swimming Club (Andy Murray) was used to fit out extras at the pool not included in the main building such as the cafeteria all with the agreement of the club members who were delighted to get the new pool fact !!
The money was spent where it should ahve been at the pool.

What theres a cafeteria there? thought it was a viewing area that sells micro chips :)
The point I was trying to get to was the fact that the report in the groat only mentioned 30K and I am sure it was more than that.
Another reason why I ask is that there was Rumours years ago that some of the money went to Thurso for the running track, I hasten to add it was a rumour and I havent heard anything since.
I have an E-mail from highland Council informing me that they will give me any info they have shortly so I will post once recieved if they have any.

[hotrod4]

Have had a reply from Highland Council who are confident that they HAVE the information fact!
And will send it to me forthwith fact!
Will post once arrived fact!

Below is copied part of e-mail

"The North Highland Archivist is now on the case and I am hopeful that the results of her search will provide the figure, within the 20 days deadline for freedom of information enquiries. If it looks like the search may take longer, I will let you know."

[hotrod4]

Some will remember that I asked some time ago what happened to all the money raised by the Wick people for a pool.(cant find the thread now)
Didnt get much info but requested it from Highland Council, was told by some that wont get any info from them as it was a CDC issue, but went ahead anyway!
Now have the info requested from Highland Council, and i post here for everyone to see.
Have noticed figures are different than was stated in the press a few weeks back(and backed up by a councillor)

Given the time lapse between the opening of the pool and now, it has been very difficult to find the information, as retention period of documentation has been exceeded. As the exact detail is no longer available I have to inform you that The Highland Council does not have the information you require. In accordance with Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 section 17 (1) (b) I must therefore advise you that the information you require is not held.

However, by accessing archive materials it has been possible to identify the following information:



In a Council memo dated 5th June 1991, there is reference to Wick Swimming pool Association having approximately £50,000 to put toward the project. A copy of this memo can be arranged by contacting Graham Nichols on the email address as above. This memo is part of ex Councillor John Green’s papers NHA reference GB1741/P510



In a newspaper article in the John O’Groat Journal it was reported on 19th November that the “toddlers pool was made possible by the Wick & District Swimming Pool Association, which donated £60,000 for this purpose. A separate donation from the association, of £1073.52 was used to buy a hoist for disabled swimmers.”



The Caithness Courier report of the official opening on 15th January 1994 only mentions that the Wick Swimming Pool Association had raised “over £60,000”.

[hotrod4]

please see above response above as thread was merged and put back down to bottom!