Councillors have given the go-ahead for the creation of a Leisure Trust that will improve the standard of leisure and community facilities within West Dunbartonshire.
The new Trust will be a separate not-for-profit organisation set up by the Council to manage a range of leisure facilities, and will have its own Board made up of elected members, staff, and community representatives.
As a charity, it will be able to save an estimated £615,000 a year in non domestic rates and it is anticipated that some of this money can be ploughed back into renovating and improving facilities.
Evidence from the 14 Scottish local authorities that have their own Leisure Trusts, also suggests that Trust status allows management to focus more single-mindedly on the successful development of the services for the benefit of customers.
At last week’s Housing, Environment and Economic Development Committee, Councillors voted to form a Trust that will include the Council’s three main leisure centres at Vale of Leven, Meadow Centre and Play Drome, and a number of community facilities such as the Alexandria CE Centre, Dumbarton Burgh Hall and Skypoint. The Active Schools, Sports Development and Outdoor Education services will also transfer.
It was agreed that this option - which excludes the Council’s library provision - would best achieve the Council’s objectives of increasing participation, improving health and regenerating the local economy, as well as generate financial savings.
The creation of the Trust is expected to take around 18 months and cost approximately £130,000 in set-up fees, registrations and professional assistance . It is also acknowledged that lack of investment in the Council’s facilities in recent years means that investment in buildings and equipment is required. It is therefore considered essential that in the early years of the new Trust that a proportion of the savings achieved could be used for re-investment.
Councillor William Hendrie, Convener for Housing, Environmental and Economic Development, said: “This is an exciting development that offers the dual benefit of triggering significant and much-needed investment in leisure facilities, at the same time as saving the Council a lot of money. The committee was convinced that this was the right thing to do and that it would hopefully lead to increased participation and improved health. There is no suggestion that this is a form of privatisation as the Council retains control and ownership of the assets, and as the main funder, will continue to have a major influence over policy.”
Lynda McLaughlin, Manager of Leisure and Facilities, said: “I am really delighted by this decision. I am aware of the benefits which Trust status has resulted in for colleagues at other Scottish Councils, and I am excited about the challenges ahead and the chance to really shape this service for local users.
"This is an important decision which affects our staff and a number of discussions and meetings have taken place with them. Staff should be reassured that they will continue to be consulted in the development of the trust in the coming months.”
