Leisure providers which provide vital sport and cultural services
for communities are facing crisis point without access to emergency
government funding or support, the Local Government Association
warns today.
The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, has
written to the Secretary of State for Culture, MP, calling for the Government
to ensure leisure trusts have access to key funding to safeguard
services.
It says leisure providers – many of whom are charities –
must be able to access the new £750 million grant-based package
for the charity and social enterprise sector.
Councils are working hard to keep supporting leisure
providers and facilities during the coronavirus crisis. This
includes by introducing a range of emergency measures such as
relaxing performance requirements, advance payments, waiving
management fees and offering financial support. This is despite
the impact coronavirus has had on the ability of councils to
generate income.
Local authorities are responsible for a third of swimming
pools, 31 per cent of grass pitches; 13 per cent of sports halls;
and almost of fifth of all health and fitness
facilities.
With the average monthly leisure utility and energy bill
costing £44,000 alone, the LGA is calling on the Government and
utility companies to also agree a short-term reduction or waiving
of standing charges for energy and water.
Cllr , Chair of the LGA’s
Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said:
“Councils are deeply concerned about the future of leisure
trusts, who are charities, societies or community interest
companies.
“Leisure facilities provide an affordable space for our
communities to exercise and socialise with family and friends.
They play a key role in improving our communities’ physical and
mental wellbeing.
“If we do not act to save these vital community resources,
it will cost us much more in the long-term both socially and
economically. It is vital that government works with councils and
leisure providers to identify any potential funding to avoid
reaching a crisis point.”
Steven Scales, Client Services Director at ukactive,
said:
“Partnerships between local authorities and their leisure
operators have never been more important, with each facing huge
financial pressures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Let there be no doubt; every city and town are
facing the loss of vital community leisure facilities which are
crucial for the physical, mental and social health of their
residents. Our leisure centres are the places where our children
learn to swim, our communities gather to meet, and our family and
friends recover from injury or illness – we cannot let them
disappear.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
-
You can view the LGA’s letter to the Secretary of State
for DCMS here.
-
The LGA is also supporting local authorities with advice
on how they can best support leisure providers and ensure
facilities are able to reopen when social distancing measures
are relaxed. The advice is being developed with partners
ukactive and Community Leisure UK. You can view the LGA’s
advice note to local authorities here.
-
Community Leisure UK who represents leisure and culture
trusts, who are charities, societies or Community Interest
Companies (with an asset lock), estimates the average monthly
utility and energy costs alone is £44,000, this figure is much
higher once salaries, pensions, maintenance and other charges
are added.
