Council considers ending sports centre deal

Harrogate Borough Council 
currently manages the sports 
centre by agreement with North Yorkshire County Council and Rossett School which allows it to run the centre outside school hours. However it is set to begin public talks on whether to end the deal.

Last year it was agreed that consideration should be given to how Rossett Sports Centre is run in future.

Coun Pat Jones, the council’s cabinet member for cultural services, said while costs are an issue, the decision is also about the change in the way the centre is being used by customers.

She added: “We have to ask ourselves why we are operating the centre when there is now little demand for coaching and supervision activities. The revenue generated is predominantly facility hire and there is no reason why this couldn’t be delivered by the school or another third party, bearing in mind the council does not own this facility.

“The proposal is simply about this council’s withdrawal from a management role and removal of the costs that go with that. We would like to think that the facilities can continue to be available for community use outside school hours but ultimately that is a decision for the school not this council.

“However, this would be consistent with the withdrawal of joint use arrangements at Harrogate High School, Boroughbridge High School and Knaresborough’s King James School where facilities remained open for community use.”

Rossett Sports Centre is a joint use site sharing facilities with Rossett School.

A review of the centre has shown there is less demand for coaching and supervised holiday activities with the majority of income coming from the hiring of facilities such as squash courts. The council will be consulting users of Rossett Sports Centre.