Sports centres and swimming pools in the Valleys are facing an uncertain future as the Aneurin Leisure Trust is on the brink of collapse. The trust, which operates facilities in locations such as Abertillery, Ebbw Vale, and Tredegar, as well as Parc Bryn Bach and Bedwellty House, reported a deficit of £888,000 for the 2023/24 financial year. Despite a 15.3% increase in income, the trust’s expenditure exceeded its income, leading to a forecasted overspend of £375,000 for the current year.
According to Phil Sykes, the trust’s director of operations, the financial challenges faced by the trust were largely due to external factors such as a 200% rise in utility costs and inflation exceeding 10%. To address the financial shortfall, cost-saving measures were explored, including the temporary closure of a pool. The trust also relied on reserves to maintain services throughout the year, but this is not a sustainable solution for the future.
The precarious financial situation of the Aneurin Leisure Trust will be presented to Blaenau Gwent councillors for discussion at a meeting of the county borough’s council’s partnerships scrutiny committee. While the trust saw a year-on-year increase in income amounting to £663,000, operational costs have surged significantly, highlighting a gap in the current financial framework.
Councillors will need to consider options to either reduce services, realign priorities, or potentially increase the management fee to address the financial challenges. However, there are no plans to bring leisure services back under direct council control. The trust, established in 2014 as a not-for-profit organisation, delivers leisure, learning, and cultural services across Blaenau Gwent, receiving an annual management fee from the council.
As discussions unfold regarding the future of leisure facilities in the Valleys, the Aneurin Leisure Trust faces tough decisions to ensure the sustainability of its operations while continuing to serve the community. Stay tuned for updates on the outcomes of the council’s deliberations and the trust’s path forward in these challenging times.