THE boss of sports centres in Kirklees has been suspended.
Terry Meehan, chief executive of Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL), is believed to be under investigation over allegations he abused his position.
The allegations are believed to concern perks of the job, including
trips.
A source said: “Staff have been told to tell people he’s off for personal reasons, but he was suspended a few weeks ago. It has something to do with perks he is meant to have taken.
“There’s a lot of confusion about what is going on, staff aren’t really being told the full story and morale is fairly low.
“Amazingly, they are carrying on and trying to do the best they can, but there isn’t a lot of recognition for the hard work people are putting in. It’s a difficult time and really the staff have done brilliantly.”
KAL was formed in 2002 as a charitable trust responsible for managing 10 sports centres and swimming pools in Kirklees.
It also manages the Stadium Health and Fitness Club and Spenborough athletics track.
It is responsible for making its own decisions and has its own board of trustees, but works in partnership with Kirklees Council.
The organisation aims to improve opportunities for increased participation in sport and recreation.
When it was set up, an independent survey decided about £20m was needed in the next 25 years to repair and maintain the sports centres and swimming pools.
As an independent charitable trust, KAL benefits from rate relief and VAT concessions amounting to £500,000 a year.
But the organisation is believed to have been beset by financial problems
Our source said it had been hit in the last two years by gas price rises and the closure of Dewsbury Sports Centre for refurbishment.
Last year the council gave KAL a £431,000 grant ahead of schedule after its income was hit by repairs and maintenance.
KAL refused to confirm or deny that Mr Meehan had been suspended.
A statement said: “It would not be appropriate for Kirklees Active Leisure to comment upon the personal circumstances of any of its employees and are therefore not in a position to make a statement with regard to this matter.”
It added: “KAL has continued to make improvements to its centres and the services it offers to the public and has seen the numbers of people using the facilities increasing year on year.
“Customers have benefited from significant facility improvements and the delivery of a diverse range of activities. All of KAL’s sites have successfully attained Quest accreditation – a nationally recognised leisure industry standard.
“KAL and the council are working towards long-term business and development plans and are confident that KAL’s financial and investment strategy will support our objectives of offering improved facilities and services for our customers.”
When asked who was currently in charge of the organisation, a spokeswoman said KAL was managed by a “strategic management team supported by the board of trustees”.
