Private firms could run Birmingham council's new swimming pools

Dec 5 2009 by Jane Tyler, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM’S two new swimming pools could be the first in the city to be run by private operators, it has been revealed.

Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre and the city’s 50-metre Olympic pool could both be taken out of city council control and placed into a leisure trust.

Council leader Mike Whitby said the setting up of a trust to run Birmingham’s leisure centres and swimming pools was something they were seriously considering.

It is the first time the council has confirmed it is thinking of handing them over to a private operator.

Coun Whitby told a meeting of Harborne ward committee they would be “foolish” not to explore the option of leisure trusts.

He was speaking after Phil Stokes, honorary secretary of the Harborne Society, raised concerns about the future of staff at Harborne baths which are due to re-open in December 2011.

Under the leisure trust arrangement, private contractors bid to run the sports centres and pools on behalf of the council.

Coun Whitby said the leisure trust proposal was something which had been recommended by consultants hired to give them advice on their swimming pools strategy.

He said it had proved a successful way of running the sports centres and pools in the neighbouring Labour-controlled Sandwell Council.

“We would be foolish not to consider it, but we have made no decision, this was just a speculative report,” he said.

He said the reasons for considering it were financial because the council would be exempt from paying Net Non Domestic Rates, saving it tens of thousands of pounds a year.

Coun Whitby insisted the staff would be treated “honourably and with respect” under any changes made and any new contractor would be legally obliged to keep their current terms and conditions for six months after the handover.

But Mr Stokes hit out at the proposals, saying the staff and public had been deceived.

He said staff at Harborne Baths had been looking forward to working in the new building.

“It is bad that you were considering these things but didn’t tell the staff or the public,” he said.

“The city council has been running swimming baths for over 150 years and now it is thinking of handing them over to the private sector.”