A meeting to debate the future of the former Hermitage Leisure Centre was halted tonight (Wednesday) and deferred to a later date - after strong criticism of a council report by concerned district councillors.

North West Leicestershire District Council's Community Scrutiny Committee was to have formulated recommendations as to what to do with site - which currently sees the old leisure centre boarded up.

That was due to presented to next month's meeting of the council's Cabinet to decide the way forwards.

But several councillors found holes in the report which was presented by the council's Head of Community Services, Paul Sanders.

The committee members unanimously voted to defer the meeting to a later date.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said the report referred to Whitwick Parish Council being consulted on the issue - but added that it had not.

He said it was 'outrageous' that a meeting could be arranged before the July 19 Cabinet meeting as the Parish Council was 'a major stakeholder' in any future project.

Cllr Wyatt called for a deferral before any discussion could talk place.

He was supported by Cllr Terri Eynon who raised concerns that the report had presented 'an unaffordable fantasy' as a scheme which would cost £5.7million was described as not being sustainable.

She also says the report could leave the council in 'an awful mess' with Everyone Active - which runs the newly opened Whitwick & Coalville Leisure Centre - possibly being in a position to claim a future development may create a conflict of interest.

Cllr Carl Benfield also said he was concerned that a councillor- without naming names - had already publicly expressed a view that the land should be used for retirement bungalow housing - although he was told by Mr Sanders that no decision had been made yet.

But Cllr John LeGrys referred to a Facebook comment by a councillor, saying that some residents felt it was pointless completing a questionnaire issued by the district council, as they felt the future of the site had already been decided.

The Hermitage Leisure Centre pictured before its closure

Cllr Benfield added that he felt the report was being 'rushed through' and that the councillor's public comment was 'inappropriate'.

Cllr Wyatt called for the meeting to be deferred after making his point about Whitwick Parish Council.

He told the meeting: "The report says Whitwick Parish Council has been consulted, I would like to make it clear to all members that it has not been officially consulted at all.

"As a major stakeholder, they should've been consulted about these recommendations and they have not.

"The Parish Council has asked for numerous meetings with officers, but have been turned down because they said there was no update.

"When there was, the Parish Council did not receive a notification.

"There is no way it can have its say by July 19 when the Cabinet is due to make a decision.

"How can you put this paper forward at this meeting? The whole paper needs to be deferred until all stakeholders have been properly consulted, and that includes Whitwick Parish Council."

When told by Mr Sanders that a separate meeting with Whitwick Parish Council before July 19, Cllr Wyatt replied: "It's outrageous to suggest that, as it's coming across, that the Parish Council is a sideline and can be consulted down the line.

"I reject this paper being put forward to members, not all stakeholders have been consulted.

"You're jumping the gun and I think it's wrong."

Cllr Eynon raised a number of issues to emerge from the report.

She said: "We appear to have paid for an unaffordable fantasy from the architects, we pay for exciting ideas, but they didn't seem aware we were strapped for cash.

"Social housing is very appealing, but I'm also aware that we have a problem in this area with anti-social behaviour.

"But I also think we need what I call a 'Byker Grove' - somewhere where young people can become involved in the right type of activity.

"I am deeply concerned that if we go ahead, we could be subjected to a claim from Everyone Active on the impact of the council promoting a competing activity.

"That needs far more work putting into it.

"How have we ended up in such an awful mess?"