Guildford: New operator will run leisure facilities like Spectrum
Under Freedom Leisure's plans, the Spectrum would also see its three main catering outlets refurbished, a redesigned gym, and a new mini golf attraction called 'Puttify'.The Lido's opening hours could be extended to 07:00 to 21:00 during the winter months, subject to the installation of external lighting. Its existing gym would be replaced with a Pilates and hot yoga studio.The contract is set to run for 10 years, with an option to extend for a further five. Councillor Catherine Houston previously said there had been "significant interest" from major leisure operators.Plans to replace the Spectrum were discussed in 2016 but were later put on hold.
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BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Derbyshire council continues to face losses over leisure centre
A parish council is continuing to face financial losses due to a heritage and leisure centre, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. Elmton with Creswell Parish Council has faced criticism for a "multitude of failures" in its governance due to the losses it has made on the heritage and leisure centre in centre operated at a loss of more than £230,000 last year and is on course to make losses of over £1m over the next three years, according to documents obtained by residents, which have been seen by the parish council said the overall deficit has reduced in real terms. The parish council took out loans of almost £3m from the government and Bolsover District Council to build the centre. But the cost of running the facility soon became a cause for concern and the council ordered an external investigation into its finances, which was published earlier this year. It said there were "large and systemic failure to follow basic legal obligations" that left councillors potentially liable to prosecution. A further investigation was then carried out by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).It did not find any evidence that warranted prosecutions, but estimated the running the centre and repaying the loans were costing the council £10,400 per week. The centre's income was just over £100,000 in the last financial year, which is roughly the same as its salary costs alone, according to documents released to residents under the Freedom of Information Act, which have been seen by the BBC. The documents also show the council's total spending on the centre was £200,000 in the last financial year and it needed to subsidise the facility to the tune of £70,000 each financial quarter.A repayment plan is also now in place to keep the council from defaulting on its debts. The problems with the leisure centre led the council to increase its council tax precept by 323% over the last two years, taking its charge to a Band D home from £172.05 in 2023/24 to £557.09 in 2025/ say the council has no choice but to increase its share of council tax bills because the leisure centre's income does not cover its running costs. The charitable trust set up to run the centre will soon be dissolved after officers concluded it was not "able to carry out the functions it was set up to perform". Day-to-day running is expected to be taken over by Bolsover District Council, which is expected to make a number of structural changes in an effort to bring down costs. There are currently no discussions between the two councils on offloading the centre to a third party operator, after NALC warned the move could incur costs for the parish elsewhere. A spokesperson for Bolsover District Council said: "Bolsover District Council and Elmton with Creswell Parish Council are currently discussing detail around day-to-day management of the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre. "The prime intention is to sustain facility access to the general public, with operating costs being met by the Parish Council." The chair of a local residents' group, Cris Carr, said that there is increasing anger among residents that they are being asked to "pay more and more with no meaningful way to challenge what's happening".He added: "The latest report suggests costs are continuing to spiral, and many now fear another rise in the precept is inevitable — even as living costs bite hard."Residents are struggling to understand how a Parish Council — traditionally responsible for Christmas lights and hanging baskets — could commit an entire village to millions of pounds in future liabilities without any form of democratic safeguard or community consent."Yet not a single Parish Councillor believes they've done anything wrong." The parish council said in a statement it "understands and shares residents' concerns" and is addressing them through "greater transparency, financial discipline, and community engagement"."For Quarter 1 of the 2025/26 financial year, the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre received a subsidy of £70,253.12, coming in under the budgeted figure of £80,485.00", it said."This marks the second year running in which the overall deficit has reduced in real terms, as part of the Council's active work to bring costs down."Our focus is on bringing down the precept and reducing the impact on council tax bills."
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Guildford: New operator will run leisure facilities like Spectrum
Almost £10m is to be invested in leisure services in Guildford after councillors approved a new long-term management Leisure has been named the preferred bidder to run Guildford Spectrum, Guildford Lido and Ash Manor Sports Centre for 10 years from 1 November, following a procurement a full council meeting on Tuesday, Guildford Borough Council (GBC) approved a £9.98m capital investment to support improvements across the council said its leisure facilities attract around 1.8 million visitors each year, with the Spectrum described as a "destination venue". Planned upgrades include a new soft play area and a water splash pad in the pool. Under Freedom Leisure's plans, the Spectrum would also see its three main catering outlets refurbished, a redesigned gym, and a new mini golf attraction called 'Puttify'.The Lido's opening hours could be extended to 07:00 to 21:00 during the winter months, subject to the installation of external lighting. Its existing gym would be replaced with a Pilates and hot yoga contract is set to run for 10 years, with an option to extend for a further five. Councillor Catherine Houston previously said there had been "significant interest" from major leisure to replace the Spectrum were discussed in 2016 but were later put on hold.
The Sun
27-07-2025
- The Sun
Fury as bankrupt Birmingham council offering asylum seekers huge discounts on swimming, golf, trampolining & Villa games
BANKRUPT Birmingham Council is offering small boat asylum seekers hefty discounts on leisure activities — including swimming, golf and trampolining. The Labour -run authority, which is locked in a bin strike now in its seventh month, is giving migrants up to 25 per cent off through its Passport To Leisure scheme. 2 2 Migrants, many of whom have crossed the Channel by boat before claiming asylum on reaching the UK, can also get a fifth off on the use of council swimming pools. Martial arts classes are subsidised for migrants under the initiative, as are courses on trampolining, golf, gymnastics and football. The price of a trip to a council wellbeing centre for fitness, yoga, squash and badminton sessions is also cheaper. The council even offers £1 tickets to Aston Villa matches for migrant children, as long as they are accompanied by a full paying adult. In a further slap in the face for taxpayers, asylum seekers get ten per cent off at most council leisure sites, meaning cheaper trips to the theatre, museum and city's botanical gardens. Under the scheme, £3 is lopped off tickets to watch shows, such as Disney musical Mary Poppins at the Birmingham Hippodrome. The Passport To Leisure card is available to over-60s, full-time students, carers, disabled people and recipients of certain benefits. Birmingham — England's largest local authority district by population — already has a 'Be Active' scheme for asylum seekers which offers free swimming and gym sessions. The council is £3.9billion in debt and declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023 with the issue of a Section 114 notice, limiting it to essential spending only. It is also under fire over its handling of a bin strike which has seen mountains of rubbish pile up on the city's streets. Migrant hotel protesters take to the streets again as demonstrations spread across the country in weekend stand-off Unite union members are in a dispute over pay and proposed changes to some roles. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This is a bankrupt Labour council, in the middle of a bin strike, racking up billions in debt, hiking council tax by 21 per cent, and their priority is trampolining perks for illegal immigrants. 'It is a slap in the face for hard-pressed taxpayers who are being forced to subsidise freebies for illegal immigrants who claim asylum having crossed the channel.'
