Harrogate Borough Council’s full council has backed an overhaul of leisure services in the district by handing control of facilities over to a new company.

Councillors voted through the proposal at a meeting last night which will see the authority spend £300,000 on start up costs for the authority-owned company called Brimham’s Active.

Opposition Liberal Democrat councillors tabled an amendment for affordable pricing, accountability and workers rights, which was also backed.

The new company will see 11 facilities in the district handed over to the company, including the Harrogate Hydro and the new Ripon Leisure Centre.

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Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said she backed the new company but raised concern over a lack of consultation.

She said:

But Stan Lumley, cabinet member for culture, media and sport, said he had insisted that people were kept informed on the new company,

He said:

The borough council is also expected to borrow £26 million to invest in new facilities, such as a new Knaresborough leisure centre, which senior councillors said go “hand in hand” with the new company.

Leisure services in the district currently run at a loss of £3.5 million a year and some facilities have increased in cost year on year.

The council will spend £300,000 to set up the company through project start up costs and it is expected to operate from August 2021.