Archived press release

Date Published: 18/07/08

Aqua Vale would be run by an independent board, selected from the local community

An innovative approach to help secure inward investment and improve the quality of services at Aylesbury Vale District Council’s leisure centres has moved a step closer to becoming reality.

At a meeting of AVDC’s cabinet this week, councillors agreed to recommendations for the Aqua Vale Swimming and Fitness Centre in Aylesbury and the Swan Pool and Leisure Centre in Buckingham to be managed by an independent Not for Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) – more commonly known as a leisure trust.

It will mean that the two flagship venues will be run by an independent board, selected from the local community.

The council will update its financial plans to reflect the establishment of the trust and the commitment to provide funding to support the medium to long-term costs of maintaining and improving the leisure centres. Any surpluses made by the trust will be re-invested in the services provided.

Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, explained: “The leisure trust will offer a number of advantages to both current users and the wider community. As a non-profit making body, the trust will re-invest any surplus back into improving facilities and take advantage of financial savings on VAT and business rates. In addition, residents will be able to apply for positions on the board of trustees – and this would give them a very direct say in how the centres are run.”

The trust, which has been recommended by leading consultants as the best option for running the centres in the future, is likely to be established in the early part of 2009.

Serco Ltd, the current management operators of the two centres, have experience of working with similar trusts at other leisure centres they manage and will continue to operate the facilities on a day-to-day basis through to the end of their current contract in March 2012.

For further information on AVDC’s leisure centres, please call 01296 585210.