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Sporting facilities in Moray – what's the future?


By Alistair Whitfield

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AN independent review into all Moray Council's sporting facilities – such as pools, gyms and playing fields – has been delayed.

A report by the consultancy group i-ESE was due to be presented at tomorrow's meeting of the full council.

However i-ESE, which was brought on board last December by the local authority to help identify money-saving solutions, says it will not be ready until this coming October at the earliest.

The consultants were commissioned at a cost of £50,000 following a vote in the council chamber.

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When the issue was debated last year councillor Tim Eagle voiced fears that an independent review might prove a waste of time, given that the council had already carried out its own internal review three months beforehand.

Speaking again this week, cllr Eagle (Buckie, Conservative) expressed concerns that the delay would not leave enough time for the proper implementation of any recommendations produced in the report ahead of the next council budget in February.

Following the lengthy traumas associated with balancing last year's budget, the local authority now faces the prospect of finding a further £10million of savings.

Cllr Eagle said "We need to ensure that we don’t lose vital local swimming pools or services like the sports development or Active Schools programmes due simply to budget cuts.

"I have been trying to drive forward the strategy behind our leisure estate since I entered council.

"We have some wonderful facilities and some truly amazing staff who are eager and keen to deliver varied courses, classes and sports to all ages throughout Moray.

"I have long been frustrated that the lack of budget within the department has never allowed it to grow and prosper as I believe it can.

"Despite having done our own leisure review, the council voted to bring in consultants to carry out a further review.

"This has been worked on over the last few months.

"As yet we know very little as to what this review will say. I was, therefore, very keen that councillors are given a briefing on its contents as soon as possible so we can be thinking about the next stage.

"I had initially hoped this would be before the summer but it ended up being pushed to the August full council meeting.

"Sadly, an e-mail has now confirmed this will no longer be happening and the briefing has been cancelled."

Councillor Tim Eagle on the day in February when the last Moray Council budget was announced. Picture: Daniel Forsyth. Image No.043344.
Councillor Tim Eagle on the day in February when the last Moray Council budget was announced. Picture: Daniel Forsyth. Image No.043344.

Cllr Eagle continued: "The full reasons for the delay are not clear.

"However one of the reasons is that at a late stage of the review it was decided to do some market testing to see what interest there might be from companies throughout the UK to take on our leisure facilities.

"While we supported this idea we are nervous that if we allow the results of that testing to be the basis of the decision we make we might not be acting in the best interest of our leisure estate.

"It is often easy to ignore or sideline leisure services, but I have long been of the mindset that we underplay its benefits at our peril.

"A well-run, modern leisure service has huge benefits for the physical and mental health of local people – young and old.

"It promotes community cohesion and provides vital social contact between mixed groups of individuals.

"We must ensure that our facilities and services are not decimated because of the need to find savings.

"I have urged council officers to provide the report as soon as possible so we can ensure the right decision is made."


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