COUNCIL-run sports centres could come to an end in Calderdale if councillors back drastic changes.
Calderdale Council will be looking at how to provide sports service in light of spending cuts.
It comes as the council implements a 10% rise in sports centre charges throughout the borough.
Following the recent budget, its Sports Services have to find £450,000 of savings.
Tomorrow councillors will discuss how they think leisure services in the borough should be managed – with one of the options to withdraw from managing the service altogether.
Clr Ian Cooper, chairman of the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel, said: “Members need to look at the ways in which sports and leisure facilities could be run in the future and decide on whether or not they feel the council is the best organisation to be delivering these services.
“If members decide to look at alternative options it will represent a fundamental change in the way we fund and deliver sports and leisure.
“Whatever options members may decide upon, the intention is to ensure that the people of Calderdale continue to enjoy excellent sports and leisure facilities both now and in the future.”
The options open to councillors are:
Maintain the current arrangements of direct council management
Fund other organisations such as schools, the voluntary sector and the private sector to deliver the services
Withdraw from the services altogether
In a consultation last year, two-thirds of people wanted the council to continue to manage the service.
But if councillors decide the service should be run outside of the local authority, a further report will be taken to Cabinet in the summer with details of the options available.
Among the services the council manages is the newly-opened £6m Brighouse Pool and Fitness Centre.
A report says that Elland Pool, which is based in a 100-year-old building, is “in need of attention and substantial capital input”.
Included in the discussions will be the future of the Sports Development Unit, which provides services including club development and funding advice, and the Spring Hall Athletics Track.
Swimming Development, which provides school swimming, and the Shay Stadium – home for AFC Halifax Town and Halifax RLFC with its recently-built South Stand – are also among the considerations.
Among the details of options to be presented to the council are an in-house trust similar to Kirklees Active Leisure, a workers’ co-operative, putting it into the private sector or working with an existing Trust or voluntary services, such as sports clubs.
