Leisure services could be privatised (From thisisoxfordshire)

Leisure services could be privatised

9:42am Wednesday 30th August 2006 in

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Leisure services in Oxford - labelled "unacceptable" by auditors earlier this year - could be privatised as part of a shake-up of city council provision.

The Town Hall, which wants a 50-metre swimming pool in the city for Olympic athletes in training, is examining ways it could provide services like pools and gym membership differently and more cost-effectively.

Although no decision has yet been made, a project board made up of senior council officers has identified three possible options: A 'hybrid' leisure service delivered by a private contractor and the council Outsourcing management Establishing a not-for-profit leisure trust.

Addressing the problems in its troubled leisure department is a priority for the council.

In February this year, leisure services were deemed to be of an "unacceptable" standard, with lax financial controls and abuses of position.

Auditors cited a lack of transparency in awarding contracts, weak management and unacceptable health and safety checks.

KPMG found weaknesses in reporting declarations of interest between senior officers and potential contractors.

They also uncovered instances where staff had run up substantial bills using work mobile phones for personal calls.

Inspectors also found no inventory of expensive equipment at one leisure centre and instances where maintenance check registers had not been signed off.

However, Mags Mernagh, the council's leisure services business manager, said privatising was one way the authority could smarten up its sickness absence record.

She has told councillors a "cultural change" and a less bureaucratic system would spark a positive working environment where things were done quicker, resulting in people being off less with sickness.

Neighbouring Vale of the White Horse District Council has moved its leisure services into the hands of a not-for-profit trust.

Abingdon Leisure Centre - or the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre as it is known - is regarded as one of the best in the county.

Independent city councillor Paul Sargent said: "In terms of the leisure department at the moment we have quite a few facilities that are of a poor standard and poorly run.

"Institutionally, the city council has a poor record of managing its own facilities.

"If you look across the country social enterprise isn't privatisation as such - I'm in favour of a not-for-profit trust."

Earlier this month the Oxford Mail revealed that Horspath Road and Water Eaton had been touted as potential sites for the city's first 50m swimming pool.

The plan is to make the city as attractive as possible to teams basing themselves here ahead of the London Olympic Games in 2012.

Frans van de Schootbrugge, chairman of the City of Oxford Swimming Club has held talks with the UK Amateur Swimming Association about building a competitive pool in Oxford.