CONTROL of Burnley's flagship Mechanics and Thompson centres could be relinquished by the council next year in a sweeping shake-up of leisure services.

Management of the two centres, as well as Padiham pool and leisure services at Padiham Town Hall, could be handed over to a newly-created Charitable Leisure Trust to save cash and attract new private investment. The jobs of recreation staff would be transferred to the trust in which Burnley Council would retain only a minority stake, despite the fact that it would continue to support the new outfit to the tune of £1.3 million a year.

Towneley Hall and the town's acres of parkland would be excluded from the transfer, targeted to take place by March, 31, next year. Councillors are being asked to give their backing to the idea at tonight's meeting of the recreation and leisure committee.

The latest scheme for off-loading council-controlled services to save cash and generate large-scale outside investment follows hard on the heels of the planned transfer of all the town's housing stock to a publicly-owned Local Housing Company in a £74 million deal. Unlike the housing scheme, where Burnley will, in effect, be selling off its assets, the council will retain ownership of the leisure buildings and lease them to the new trust.

A report to councillors says a trust would be able to attract potential new funding, develop and improve services, save large amounts of annual business rates and even make the people who use and run the leisure centres stakeholders in them.

The charity could also benefit from major tax breaks, which could lead to lower admission charges.

The report says the Thompson Centre, which missed out on a multi-million pounds Sports Lottery grant, requires investment for continued development and match funding for a new bid could come from the leisure trust savings. Padiham leisure centre requires some refurbishment and the Mechanics is in need of 'significant investment.'

"Being predominantly based on one site, it is better suited to the development of a clearer focus and a more businesslike approach to its operations," the report adds.

On Towneley Hall, the report states that, because of its unique circumstances, there would be few immediate advantages to including it in the trust, but it could be included at a future date. The council would continue to make a grant to the trust of £1.3 million per annum to meet the difference between operational costs and income from admissions.

By providing the annual grant, the council would be able to impose controls on such things as admission prices and user policy, the report adds.

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