Bridgend Council is considering its options for leisure and well-being services in the county according to a report discussed by a council scrutiny committee yesterday (pdf).
In 2012, BCBC entered into a 15-year agreement with the not-for-profit provider, Halo Leisure, to run the county’s eight leisure centres and swimming pools.
The partnership has delivered many of the council’s aims, including:
- At least £1.8million in cuts and backroom efficiency savings – though the 2024-25 budget requires more to be found.
- Subsidised fees for certain groups have been protected (but are likely to be reduced or withdrawn as part of the 2024-25 budget).
- Bridgend has been rated “excellent” in quality schemes for sport & leisure and healthy living partnerships.
- £8.6million has been invested in improved or renovated facilities, the largest project of which being the remodelling of Bridgend Life Centre/”The Rec”.
Beyond 2027?
With the contract with Halo set to come to an end in March 2027, BCBC is weighing up its options.
BCBC is minded to take a similar approach to that taken for recycling services: a short-term contract extension to give officers time to consider alternative means of delivering the service, including bringing leisure services back in-house.
An extension would also give leisure services more time to properly recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
An internal review backs the idea of a contract extension until at least March 2032, when the financial picture and leisure strategy would be clearer. It would also likely include a reduced management fee (by up to £200,000 a year).
The risk of an extension is that it could be challenged by alternative providers.
Some work has been done on the implications of bringing leisure services back in-house. The early figures estimate BCBC would pay at least £4.4million more than they would as part of a 5-year extension with Halo over the same period.
