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Originally Posted by the funk
Free swimming and free use of playing fields was health money which was given to the Council as this area is an area with poor health. Couple of months before an election PB and his cronies decide they need some positive news in the press and in the usual shortsighted way chuck that money to get kids swimming. Great for kids and families during the holidays but the fact the money was only committed for 1 year it probably means that in April 08 the free use will stop and the prices will revert back to what they were, but with an inflationary increase.
Leisure Trust is under-funded from HBC but has too small a portfolio to make it work with 2 ageing centres and a few old community buildings. Authorities generally enter into trust arrangements to generate savings which can be re-invested into the facilities, but I would doubt this has happened in this case, however Pendle operate their Leisure facilities through a Trust and they don't seem to be doing so badly.
Looking at the state of Hyndburn Sports Centre, we would be best served knocking it down, selling the land, and giving everyone a free bus pass to go and use facilities in Blackburn or Burnley!!!
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I think the Council funded out of the Rates the free swimming which cost £15,000 and which has seen a huge increase in the number of junior users, as well as bringing more adults coming along with them. THe Health Authority contributed nothing.
The idea for the Free Sports Pitches and Half Price for Adults was mine, though you may say it was silly, along with reducing swimming costs for kids. PB then took it lock stock and barrel and implemented it. He may well end it April 08, I doubt it, we would not and he may consider that therefore he is unable to for political reasons. We said at the beginning that Health Authorities would fund this type of activity. I spoke with the Sports Minister who said the idea's were excellent and that he had given PCT's funds to support such activities.
The Leisure Trust is not underfunded by the Council. It receives nearly £1m a year subsidy with little democratic control on how our Rates are spent by them. Two years ago the Trust pushed for taking on more of the Council's Leisure/Arts service's. Pendle has just entered a Trust. I told Alan Davies (leader lib dem) not to but they were in to deep and said reports from Hyndburn (which they based theirs on) was a runaway success. I told him then it wasn't and he was being fooled by a 'political elite'.
My view is the Trust is badly run. Too top heavy. A case of small is ugly as it lacks capacity and therefore is unable to take strategic decisions.