Company could run council’s leisure centres as part of money-saving plan
A COUNCIL in North Yorkshire has outlined its plan to save up to £500,000 a year by setting up a company to run its sports and leisure services.
Harrogate Borough Council is set to launch Brimham’s Active by August next year in a major revamp of the way it runs its 11 leisure venues in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Pateley Bridge.
The plan, which has been two years in the making, would see some 400 members of staff transferred across to the Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC).
Six council officers or elected members – to be chosen next week – would be given roles as non-executive directors on a board, alongside three company executive appointments. The role of a managing director will also be created. Details of pay have yet to be revealed, but full-time and part-time contracts would be drawn up.
The council consulted with residents in May and councillors will be asked to give the scheme the go-ahead next week.
Coun Stanley Lumley, the cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, hailed the plan as “a new vision for the future” of the council’s sports and leisure services.
But a union official at UNISON Harrogate claimed the plan has “no overwhelming support” from staff or the public and would put jobs at risk. Branch secretary David Houlgate also said the council had not kept him informed as the plans progressed.
The council said it could not be expected to provide a “running commentary” while a report is prepared for councillors.
The plans will be discussed by the cabinet on Wednesday next week before going before full council on July 8.