Worries over sport contract

‘Poor second’concern at possible leisure bidders

Stirling area’s sports facilities could be taken over by an organisation linked to Edinburgh City Council.

The Observer has learned that Edinburgh Leisure is among about five public and private bodies considering bids for the contract currently held by Active Stirling.

Edinburgh Leisure is the charitable trust set up by the council there to run leisure facilities in the city.

Yesterday (Tuesday) a spokesman for the organisation said they were currently reviewing the tender documentation, adding: “We have expressed an interest in the tender. There is the obvious fit with our purpose which is to make a positive difference to communities by creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more areas of expertise.”

The spokesman said they had “organisational knowledge and expertise in delivering and developing quality physical activity experiences to a variety of communities”.

Its interest in annexing Stirling’s sports hubs has dismayed insiders within Stirling

Council.Theyfear facilities in the Stirling area could becomethe“poorcousins” of the Edinburgh trust, if they win the contract.

There is further anxiety over possible cuts in services and programmes and job losses if any of the private bidders is successful.

One council source told the Observer:“If a trust from another area comes in and takes over the Stirling facilities and then faces funding cuts in their home area, their region will come first and Stirling will come a very poor second.

“And it will be the same if a private company wins the contract. Rather than re-investing profits, as happens at the moment, they will strip profits out of our region.”

Edinburgh Leisure was set up in 1998 to manage and develop sporting and leisure facilities on behalf of the council there. It also has social enterprise status, employs 800 staff and has £30 million turnover.

Stirling Council decided earlier this year to put out to tender the contract to run the Stirling leisure trust which employs about 200 people and runs facilities such as the £27.3 million Peak sports centre and Stirling Sports Village.

Active Stirling was set up in 2006 and run the area’s sports facilities on behalf of Stirling Council, but their £1.3 million contract with the authority ran out in March.

Critics of the tendering move within the council claim it is being driven by chief executive Stewart Carruth whom they describe as an “ideological outsourcer”.

However, supporters of Mr Carruth believe the move is a prudent one designed to get best possible value for the council tax-payer.

SNP councillors have argued that public contract regulations provided an exemption from tendering for bodies such as Active Stirling.

The Observer understands that representatives of Edinburgh Leisure and Glasgow Life – the organisation which runs leisure facilities there – discussed the tender at a fact-finding meeting in Stirling during the summer.

However, Glasgow Life say they will not be submitting a tender. Applicants have until November 4 to submit to the council their full tender proposal.

A spokesman for Stirling Council said:“As we are currently going through the tender process, we are unable to discuss any details until the new contract is operating, which should be April of next year.”