Quote:
Originally Posted by g jones
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.
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Definately agree its badly run. Let me just quantify that I go on knowledge gained from speaking to people within the authority, things may not be 100% right.
I never think that 'free' is the way to go, people see no value to things that are free, it doesnt promote a sense of belonging or investment of time, whilst many kids may be swimming (and thus occupying themselves constructively) the number who will continue to do that if/when charges come back in will severly drop. Short termism is counter-productive.
If HBC has funded this scheme then I do hope that it continues year after year. I thought it was from the money the council got as a spearhead authority, but as I say I may be wrong.
The trust was created because it was felt it could deliver the best value of services at the time, so if it comes back to HBC control why will things be anything different?