BOROUGH leaders say they are hopeful they can keep all their leisure services staff despite it undergoing a major review.
Councillors are looking to find £440,000 in savings from the service by 2018/19 and have earmarked £75,000 to look at options for the future.
These are: To continue with in-house management and delivery, to create an in-house trust or company, or outsource the service to the market to find a specialist leisure service provider.
A date has been set of October 31 for officers to make their recommendations.
Councillor Brandon Clayton (Con, Astwood Bank & Feckenham) said it was important for the council to get a move on as staff have been left in limbo for 18 months already.
“This report when it finally comes out will be two years in the making and it’s about time we made a decision one way or another so staff know exactly what is going on and this burden can be lifted from them,” he said.
However Coun John Fisher (Lab, M’boro) portfolio for corporate management, said: “All three options need to be fully investigated and appraised of their individual merits and we need the evidence to do this.”
Coun Pat Witherspoon (Lab, Church Hill) portfolio holder for leisure services added: “We cannot afford to make any slip ups. We do know staff are concerned, but we are hopeful that we can keep them all on board and that we do not lose any and they can be praised up for the work they do.”
Councillors heard that the Palace Theatre had increased revenue by more than £200,000 over the last couple of years and staff were looking at the logistics of putting more seats in the popular venue.
The Abbey Stadium has seen an £9,000 increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2017/18 and the shop at Forge Mill Museum has seen sales increase by £4,000.
