Birmingham leisure chief Councillor Ray Hassall is sacked

May 11 2009 by Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

THE city leisure chief at the centre of storms over hikes in golf fees and the delays in building an Olympic sized swimming pool has been sacked by party colleagues.

Coun Ray Hassall has been replaced after three years as Cabinet Member for leisure, sport and culture following an 18-14 vote by Liberal Democrat colleagues.

It marks the end of a miserable year for Perry Barr councillor Hassall who has found himself under fire for raising municipal golf fees by 25 per cent to plug an £800,000 budget shortfall, needing emergency deals to secure parks maintenance contracts and in hot water after failing to convince colleagues he can deliver a 50 metre swimming pool in time for the 2012 Olympics.

The role is a poisoned chalice without the guaranteed funding that housing, education and social care receive, but expensive facilities like swimming pools, parks and libraries to run.

Today Coun Hassall said: “I’m relived. I’m going to take a long holiday. It has been a stressful year, with a constant battle for funding and resources.

“But I am proud to have achieved some great things; the International Dance festival, the most successful Artfest ever with 30,000 people watching ballet in Centenary Square and we brought back the half marathon.”