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Nov 2024
All change again at Harrogate district leisure centres
In just two months’ time, leisure services in the Harrogate district will be rebranded for the second time in three years.
North Yorkshire Council, which took responsibility for public leisure facilities in April 2023, has announced that all facilities will change from Brimhams Active to Active North Yorkshire.
The change signals a significant move from the current local authority-controlled model under Brimhams, to bringing all services back in-house.
But what does this mean to the average person who uses facilities such as the Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre and why is the council doing this?
What will change?
In December, Harrogate's leisure centres, including those in Ripon and Knaresborough, will be rebranded Active North Yorkshire.
It comes after North Yorkshire Council decided to dissolve Brimhams Active, the leisure company set up by the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council three years ago to operate facilities across the district.
Leisure centres and pools in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough. Starbeck and Pateley Bridge will get new looks.
Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre
The Fairfax, Stockwell and Jennyfield Styan wellbeing hubs will also rebrand to Active North Yorkshire, as well as the Turkish Baths and the Little Explorers Day Nursery in Harrogate.
It means that from December 1, people can expect to see new names on signs and staff uniforms across leisure sites.
The council will also launch a new customer app and web page. Customers will still be able to access facilities and classes as usual, but additional activities and services will also be introduced.
There has been no mention of any changes to membership prices or user fees.
Why is the council doing this?
The council launched a review into leisure facilities across the county in January as part of its harmonisation agenda.
It took the decision to bring all its services in-house in order to save money.
According to a council report published this month, part of the reason to bring Harrogate’s services in-house was to save money on VAT.
The authority pointed to a High Court ruling in March 2023, which stated that council-run leisure services could be treated as non-business activities — meaning they would not be subject to VAT.
As a result, officials at Northallerton felt a move to an in-house model to “streamline” services would have more advantages over other types of operation.
A council officer's report put before senior councillors in January said:
The in-house model is the most VAT-efficient model, following the recent Chelmsford ruling and offers financial benefits over both the Local Authority Trading Company and the procured operator model.
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre.
How much will it save?
The council estimates that bringing Harrogate’s leisure companies in-house will save around £67,000 a year, according to a recent report.
It has forecast savings of around £213,000 in VAT, but additional business rates cost of £146,000.
The council has also estimated a project cost of £376,000 to transition the county’s leisure facilities in-house — £90,000 of which would be for Brimhams Active operated centres alone.
Last month, the authority launched a public consultation on its leisure facilities. The survey, which is still running, invites people to have their say on current leisure provisions and how they feel these could be improved.
Regardless of cost savings and changes to branding, customers at Active North Yorkshire will be the judge of whether the overhaul has been successful.
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