Staff call on council to take on leisure venues
LEISURE centre staff are calling on Neath Port Talbot (NPT) Council to take over the running of local services rather than transfer them to a private company.
Council workers want the local authority to run leisure services but plans are under way for a private company to take over.
Leisure services in NPT are currently provided by Celtic Leisure, a private limited company, on behalf of the council.
The council gave the company a 10-year contract to run the services from 2015, but in 2020 it decided to look for a new service provider for the next 25 years. The contract with Celtic Leisure ends in September.
Rachel Ide, a sales executive for Celtic Leisure, said that if the council did not agree to run the services, it would have “quite a devastating effect” on local communities.
She thinks the quality of leisure services in NPT would improve if the council took over.
“I think if we were put out to tender to a profitmaking
organisation the service levels would absolutely fall,” she said. “It would be awful for our members.
“As a community and council-led organisation I really feel that we can give a holistic approach to welfare, whether that’s mental or physical health.
“It’s crucial that we all work together. If the organisation was privatised, that wouldn’t happen I don’t think.”
A report published in 2020 by Andrew Thomas,
who was head of transformation at the time, stated that the council decided to look for a new service provider after experts assessed the “value for money” provided by Celtic Leisure.
The report states that by looking for another service provider, the council wants to ensure local residents “continue to have the opportunity to participate in physical activity and have access to highquality leisure facilities”.
The services included in the process are: ■ Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre ■ Neath Leisure Centre, which will be replaced by a new swimming pool and leisure centre in Neath town centre ■ Neath Sports Centre at Cwrt Herbert ■ Pontardawe Centre ■ Pontardawe Swimming Pool ■ The Vale of Neath Leisure Centre, Glynneath ■ The Gwyn Hall, Neath.
The report by Mr
Leisure
Thomas states: “There would therefore be no reduction in the facilities currently available.
“In the event that any changes are proposed during the proposed contract term, the appropriate consultations and legal requirements will be complied with.
“Staff of Celtic Leisure will transfer to the successful tenderer on the same terms and conditions to which they currently work under.”
IT manager Darren Morgan said local leisure services would be better if they were run by the council.
“I think the service delivery will always be consistent and the staff will do their best on the ground.
“There was a drop in footfall and income over the last couple of years so I think the council have picked up on that and that’s why they’ve made the decision to outsource us.”
Trade union Unison has launched a campaign for the council to operate leisure services in NPT, with the support of local MPS Christina Rees and Stephen Kinnock and Senedd Members David Rees and
Jeremy Miles.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition made by Unison for the council to run the leisure services.
Jane Gebbie, Unison NPT branch secretary, said: “There’s no reason why [leisure services] can’t return to in-house where they are managed more appropriately.”
Mark Fisher, Unison NPT branch chair, said: “Local people need a say in how their leisure centres are operated and that means the council running them directly.
“Taxpayers are funding the development of an exciting leisure centre in Neath town centre and the new facilities for Pontardawe, Aberavon and the Gwyn Hall.
“It wouldn’t be right for the buildings to then be outsourced to the private sector to claim all the profits.
“We want every penny generated, reinvested to improve community leisure services, not disappearing into private pockets.”
A Neath Port Talbot Council spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment at this stage.”