SORAC update

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SORAC UPDATE

We have been going through the information supplied to us under Freedom of Information and there seems to be some suspect scoring. We are writing to the Council asking for further information to try and explain their scoring and if we are not satisfied with their answers we will keep at them until they make a full investigation in to the tender panel and their scoring process.

We are also starting a Press campaign, with Junior Figure skaters highlighting the hours that they have to get up for training before going on to school and the negative effect it can have on their education. It is also restrictive to their skating ambitions and we will be taking that up with The Sports Council for Wales.

We will keep on highlighting the need for a second pad and publicise the failings of CCC in researching the needs of the users before writing up the specifications and criteria of the Rink tender.

We will not be giving CCC any peace in the run up to Local Elections and intend to use every opportunity in our fight to get the Rink Cardiff and Wales deserves and not the one that Planet Ice/CCC want to give us

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There was a full committee meeting tonight and tha following action plan has been agreed. We have decided to press on with this before meeting with the Council representatives as we feel we have given the council enough time to resolve the situation with the ice rink

We will interrogate the FOI responses and log our concerns with further FOI requests to seek clarification

We will harness user support and actively demonstrate throughout the City

In the interests of of Public accountability we will instigate a media campaign to push for delivery of the truth and reveal practices that have been demonstrated over the last five years and the various tender processes in relation to the ice rink, We will engage with the citizens of South Wales and the electorate in order to raise awareness of these issues

We will consult with WAG to highlight concerns with the procurement process eg No consultation with users and public leading to the award of the tender being to a not fit for purpose specification

We will also press for improvements to the current temporary facility which we feel is dangerous and has many issues that need to be resolved if the facility is to continue in use until a SUITABLE REPLACEMENT is delivered

We feel that the tender has been awarded to the worst of the three facilities and the only positive with the selected tender relates to the profitability of the preferred tenderers operation, and is not in the interests of any of the user groups or the development of Ice Sports in South Wales

All users can help by voicing their concerns to their Councillors and Welsh Assembly members in writing and also letters to the local press. Do not bother filling Planet Ice complaint book in as you can see by looking at where the pages are ripped out what they think of your views

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SORAC had a meaningful positive meeting with high level Council Officials today and further meetings are planned over the next couple of weeks.

We voiced all of our concerns and the Council have noted them. We will be in consultation with the Council as representatives of all rink users through the whole ongoing process.

We should be able to update you late next week regarding any developments or progress arising from today's meeting