Agenda item

To receive a presentation on the findings of the Leisure Facilities Review from Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture.

Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, gave a presentation on the review of council-owned indoor leisure facilities.

Wiltshire Council had inherited some form of financial responsibility for 23 facilities around the county, including many facilities which were out of date and inefficient.  The situation was unsustainable, with £93 million required over the next 25 years merely to sustain the existing stock, excluding any investment to improve the buildings.

As such, proposals had been developed on the basis of £117 million investment over 25 years, to deliver a high quality, efficient and sustainable service.  This would also go some way to meeting carbon reduction targets, with leisure facilities currently accounting for 21% of the Council’s carbon emissions.

The proposals would see four new facilities within campuses, with another two existing facilities being significantly enhanced and retained.  The remaining facilities would also receive significant capital investment, before being made available for transfer to community management arrangements, as part of a robust process including support and identification of suitable business models, phased financial support resulting in independence, and potentially the transfer of freehold. It was acknowledged that different mechanisms and solutions would suit different facilities, and so a report on options had been commissioned to give examples of arrangements which had been established in other areas.

Consultation on the proposals was taking place up to 29 October 2010, with details available on the Council’s website, and at libraries, leisure facilities and offices.  A report on the outcome of the consultation would be submitted to the Cabinet in December, and the Council would consider the results in February 2011.

There were proposals to undertake refurbishments to the Springfield Leisure Centre leading to the devolvement of the facility; ideally the council would wish to develop the refurbished leisure facility into a true community campus.

Devolvement could be to a single or a variety of different groups. In other parts of the county interest had been forthcoming from community groups, town/parish councils, schools, existing trusts etc.  The council had commissioned a report on the community trust options to assist with the proposal.  Community groups would be given support and advice to set up the organisation.  The organisations who had already taken over responsibility for leisure facilities in Calne and Cricklade had volunteered to give advice and support where requested.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Wheeler for the presentation and invited questions and comments:

• There were concerns that if the council cannot afford to run the leisure centre how could a community group be able to do so.  Cllr Wheeler explained that the present situation in terms of the large number of facilities that the council is responsible for is unsustainable but this is not attributable to a single facility.  The Springfield Leisure Centre has a strong customer base and was performing well.  Community management presents opportunities to increase the efficiency of operating facilities through not for profit governance structures which would enable grants to be accessed which are not available to the council and through other means such as the use of volunteers and the ability to use local companies to provide services.

• A question was asked relating to the campus development which was currently under consideration.  Would it not be prudent for the council to retain ownership of the centre to ensure its future as an essential part of the campus?  Would it be advisable to delay any decision on the centre’s future until the outcome of this is known?  Councillor Wheeler explained that the leisure centre would be an essential part of the campus and the council would be considering the best way for property to be managed whether it was retained as part of the whole campus or leased to an independent management group.  The outcome of both consultations would be reflected in the council’s decision making process and would form one programme of work once the leisure review is complete.

• The council had set aside a minimum four year period to work with local people and organisations to secure new management for the centres.  If a centre subsequently became unviable this would be considered by the council at the appropriate time but had not been discussed at this stage.

• As the pool was used by dedicated swimmers, many of whom travel from Chippenham, had any thought been given to joint running of the Springfield Centre by Chippenham and Corsham?  Councillor Wheeler stated that this could be considered but joint management may not be viable.

• If the burden of running the centre fell on the town council this could be unfair as it is used by those who live further afield.  Wiltshire Council was aware that the centre was used by a wide catchment area but this could be seen as an opportunity.

• Had the fact that there would be squash and tennis courts available for use at Basil Hill been taken into account as this could entice people away from the Springfield site?  This had been taken into account during the planning stage and was a risk, however, the Basil Hill facilities would be located behind the fencing on the MoD site.

• Representatives from Colerne stated that they had excellent facilities on the camp and asked whether there would be any local support for these facilties.  As this was outside the scope of the leisure review officers agreed to speak to Colerne Parish Council about this issue following the meeting.