In a report to Cabinet, a recommendation will be given that the Council retains ownership of Cardiff Riding School, while working in partnership to generate revenue to make the asset financially viable for future generations.
Following detailed scrutiny by the Economy and Culture Committee in April 2013, an immediate review was undertaken to establish whether the riding school was viable as an in-house service. Following this review, a market testing exercise was carried out by placing adverts in the local press exploring alternative models to deliver this service. With the Cabinet’s endorsement, the Council will work in partnership with the Friends of Cardiff Riding School and retain ownership of the facility.
In 2012/13, the financial outlook of the riding school was bleak, with a £39 000 deficit and urgent repairs required to stables and other buildings on the site. The expected figures for 2014/15 are encouraging with the service expected to make a small surplus.
Councillor Ramesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Sport Leisure and Culture, said: “A great deal of work has taken place already to start to turn this service around, with £22 000 of additional savings already generated by securing a better price for animal feed and handling waste, making improvements to the services we provide and an additional £20 000 of income generated.
“Through the market testing exercise, the proposal by the Friends of the Riding School was the best option. By working together, we will be able to explore wider options to secure external funding and create a viable solution to operate this service. If approval is given to proceed, the service area will be working in partnership to identify suitable options for funding the capital works which are required at this site.”
“The income generated from this service will be earmarked into a specific budget, so that this money can be used to provide repairs and improvements to the facility.
“With the unprecedented financial cuts to local authorities in Wales, we have to look at alternative ways to deliver services. In this instance, we believe that this is a viable model, working in partnership to
