Plans for a significant change to leisure services in Neath Port Talbot Council have been postponed for another five years. Originally, the transfer of control of leisure services from Celtic Leisure to the council was expected to take place by April 2023. This move would have given the council authority over all leisure centres and facilities in the area. However, cabinet members decided to delay the transition due to concerns over potential extra costs. They feared that implementing the change could result in cuts to other council services and potentially lead to the closure of some leisure venues.
The decision to extend Celtic Leisure’s contract for another five years to manage leisure services was reached at a recent cabinet meeting on October 2. Councillors were presented with three options regarding the timeline for the transfer of services. The first option of bringing leisure services under the council’s management from April 1, 2025, was deemed unaffordable and could have necessitated a council tax increase of around 2%. The other options included extending the contract with Celtic Leisure on the current terms and conditions, or with revised terms and conditions as proposed by trade union representatives.
Ultimately, the cabinet approved the second option of a five-year contract extension with Celtic Leisure from April 1, 2025, maintaining the current terms and conditions. A council spokesperson mentioned that any revised terms and conditions for Celtic Leisure employees would be determined by the management board of Celtic Leisure. The council expressed its commitment to engaging with the company and trade unions to explore ways to enhance staff terms and conditions within budget constraints.
Council leader, Cllr Steve Hunt, highlighted the recommendation as a means to safeguard jobs and services with Celtic Leisure, coupled with a planned additional investment of £1 million to improve the service in the future. He assured that efforts would continue to enhance working conditions, pay, and pensions for Celtic Leisure employees in collaboration with the board. However, the Labour leader for the Neath Port Talbot area, Cllr Rob Jones, expressed disappointment with the council’s decision, characterising it as a “U-turn”.
The cabinet’s resolution on leisure services is currently subject to a statutory three-day call-in period. The latest news from Neath Port Talbot can be accessed by signing up for the newsletter.