Labour in a spin over town's Leisure Centres (Andrew Simpson)

Labour in a spin over town's Leisure Centres

January 25, 2005 8:02 PM

Labour fails to back town's leisure centres

Local Labour councillors bizarrely voted against a motion amended by Lib Dem councillors that backed the Council's three Leisure centres - Lings, Mounts Baths & Leisure Suite and Danes Camp.

"Labour's action showed how they are only concerned with political spin and opportunism rather than protecting and improving our town's Leisure Centres" said Cllr Andrew Simpson (Lib Dem Councillor for Kingsley Ward and Parliamentary spokesperson)

The Council was considering a motion submitted by Labour Councillors that spoke of closure threats and privatisation moves concerning the council run centres. Lib Dem councillors amended Labour's motion to more accurately reflect the real position which was to find ways of running the services more effectively and to bring in more money to improve them.

The Labour motion also failed to give a specific commitment to keep the centres open something Lib Dem councillors were pledged to achieving.

"Labour are whipping up people's fears over job cuts and closures and privatisation for political purposes. They are spinning the true position for their own ends" said Andrew. "It was not about privatisation it was about improving the service something supported by Lib Dems, Conservatives and by both Trade Unions involved (GMB & Unison)"

Labour Councillors then voted against the following motion (which was carried with Conservatives supporting the Lib Dems):

Leisure Centres

We believe that employees within our leisure centres have the right to be consulted on any future changes to the service and also have the right to expect job security and protected conditions of service, we regret that they should be left to read about their fate through the pages of the local media.

We believe our leisure centres provide valuable and affordable leisure services to the public of Northampton and pricing policy should also play a role in any future re-organised provision. It is particularly important that these services continue to be provided given the indices of deprivation reflecting the poor health in significant parts of the town.

We therefore call on Council to:

(a) Research other options to privatisation including the formation of an arms length 'Leisure Trust'.

(b) Consult with staff and users and other stakeholders including local health and sports development agencies of the Leisure Centres on their views as to the future management of the services therein.

This Council is committed to ensure that all three leisure centres remain open, are able to improve and are operated in a way that provides the best possible value to users within the budget to be determined by the council.