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09

Jul 2020

Last Updated: 08/07/2020
Politics
Politics

Council gives final backing to leisure services overhaul

by Calvin Robinson

| 09 Jul, 2020
Comment

0

Councillors voted through the leisure overhaul last night and an amendment for affordable pricing and workers rights was also approved.

hydro-swimming-pool-entrance-gv-march-2020
Leisure and sports centres in Harrogate will close under a second lockdown.

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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Council officials have said the decision to hand over the leisure facilities to Brimham’s Active will save £400,000 a year and that the authority will have a majority on its board.

It follows a council consultation which saw nearly half of respondents disagree with the move and residents in Starbeck vowing to fight any future threat to the area’s 150-year-old baths.



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

She said:

“Many have felt that they have not had an opportunity to have their say on their facilities.
“We have not been involved in the final draft until now. Lots of seminars and overview and scrutiny, but no involvement.
“Therefore all we could do is vote for, against or vote for an amendment on the recommendations made by cabinet.”


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:

“This is the culmination of almost three years work.
“I am quite dismayed that people can say that they have not been involved or informed. We have had several opportunities to discuss this and comment on what we planned to do.
“Right at the outset, almost three years ago, I insisted that officers not only kept members informed but also that borough council employees were kept informed along this journey.
“We have consulted and we have taken notice of that consultation.”


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.