Plans for new leisure centres under spotlight

PLANS for two new leisure centres in Leeds are set to be discussed by council bosses next week.

Members of Leeds City Council’s executive board will have the opportunity to support a feasibility study about the building of two facilities – one in inner east Leeds and the other in Rothwell.

Also included is a recommendation that a feasibility plan and proposed public consultation to investigate the creation of a modern, up-to-date-swimming pool facility being built in the area served by Kippax Leisure Centre.

The council said that while this work is underway, the operational hours of the current centre will be reduced from April 2017 to help meet the “financial shortfall” that the facility faces.

Once the feasibility studies are completed, a further report is expected to be brought back to the executive board with options to consider in 2017.

The council said: “The proposals form part of a wider report to the executive board which provides an overview of the strategy to ensure that the council’s centres are run on a stronger commercial footing with usage increased so income growth covers running costs in times of a severe budget shortfall. This aims to achieve the council’s lasting commitment to offer residents of all ages and backgrounds access to leisure services and facilities and to provide services that the commercial fitness sector doesn’t.”

Previous significant investment by the council in new leisure centres at Armley and Morley, and Holt Park, which was supported by funding from the Department of Health and in existing facilities, has proved to be a key success in keeping and attracting users and also increasing revenue for the authority.

Since 2008/09, the council says it has reduced its net service deficit by 45% while at the same time increasing its income generation, excluding grant income, by £1.8m.

The council has reiterated its ambition to again move forward with an ‘invest to grow’ focused commercial strategy. As part of this work, this includes a £1.2m revamp of Aireborough Leisure Centre which was agreed by the executive board last month, a new gym at Middleton Leisure Centre and enhanced swimming provision at John Smeaton Leisure Centre.

Cllr James Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for sport, said: “Our leisure centres play an extremely vital role in ensuring that residents’ right across the city can take part in sport and exercise and access facilities and classes that are both affordable and of a high quality. To ensure that our leisure centres continue to be well used and are in a solid position to meet the wide range of challenges that exist, we have therefore submitted to the executive board our proposed vision and strategy for the future.

“Despite our budget continuing to be under real pressure, we have taken the decision therefore to continue to invest in order to grow our leisure centres. The benefits of this approach have already provided the residents of Leeds with modern, high class facilities, whilst also providing an important source of increased revenue to the council and playing its part in cutting significantly the net deficit of the service. As part of this plan, this includes a proposal to move forward with a feasibility study to assess the potential of two new leisure and wellbeing centres opening in inner east Leeds and Rothwell, which is a very exciting move.

“In the report, we have also set out a number of recommendations regarding the leisure centre in Kippax, which does include a reduction in its opening hours. While the centre is operating at a significant budgetary deficit per year compared to other similar leisure centres, we have worked extremely hard to find a way forward that can ensure that in the short, medium and long-term this cost can be reduced whilst services can still be provided to residents. To make it clear, we remain absolutely committed to providing a wide range of leisure facilities to people living in those communities served by Kippax Leisure Centre. This is underlined by a recommendation that the council also move forward with a feasibility study to assess the possibility of a new modern swimming pool facility opening in the area, which is a welcome step forward.”