The ASA Handbook - Swimming.Org

Annual General Meeting
Supplemental Question by the West Midlands - The West Midlands Region sought an
explanation as to how Community Swimming Limited could be owned by the ASA but not
considered a subsidiary.
The Director of Regulatory and Legal Affairs advised that the company had been formed by the
ASA though the control of the company was vested in independent Trustees.
The response was accepted.
Supplemental Question by the West Midlands. The West Midlands Region queried the exposure
of the ASA in relation to the £378,388 and whilst noting the various payment plans set out sought
assurance that we were being realistic in respect of these repayments, liabilities and loans.
The CEO replied and advised that this had been an opportunity for the ASA to enter into joint
venture with a leading private fitness operator but a number of mistakes were made. A lot has
been learnt and external support was sought from the auditors. We are confident that the
company has been turned around and are hopeful that providing everything continues as it is it
will generate sufficient income not only to repay loans but also make a profit.
The essential ingredients for the formation of Community Swimming Limited were basically to
provide quality swimming lessons in LA Fitness pools for which no venue hire is charged. There
is an agreed management charge on both sides and the point is to open up more opportunities
to learn to swim and possibly make a modest profit.
An appraisal has been done of the process followed and of mistakes made. Management
processes have been enhanced to ensure that in the future any ventures such as this will include
more careful management of risk and project management.
The response was accepted.
12.4. Page 61 - South East Starred Item C3
It is not clear where the expenditure on Regional commissioning appear, unless it is under
‘Expenditure: Grant funded projects’. Is there available a figure for the extra costs involved in
terminating the commissioning agreements?
Response:
There were no costs involved in terminating the commissioning agreements as it was an internal
transaction between the regions and the centre.
Paul Davies – Strategic Lead Grow
12.5. Supplemental Question from the South East - Further clarification was sought on costs of decommissioning.
Response:
The Chief Operating Officer confirmed there wasn’t a direct cost related to de-commissioning.
At the end of commissioning there were no redundancies and management was reassigned
centrally.
The response was accepted.
12.6. Point of Order
12.6.1. The West Midlands raised a point of order regarding the starred items and requested if
it were possible to have all starred items on the list that have been submitted originally.
The Chairman confirmed that the current system allowed for those questions remaining
to be dealt with in an orderly manner and that if questions could be dispensed with prior
to the ACM then they should do so. However, he agreed that it would be possible in future
for delegates to request further discussion on questions that had been dispensed with
provided it was a substantive and important point.
12.7. South East Page 61,Committee Meetings - Starred Item C4
Is there an explanation for a rise of 32% in the costs of Committee meetings?
Response:
The increase in costs relating to the strategic review undertaken by the ASA Board. It includes
the cost of an external facilitator and an offsite meeting.
Jane M Nickerson – Chief Operating Officer.
The response was accepted.
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