Future of sport arena to be discussed by council

Arena Sports is part of Kettering Leisure Village which was built in the early 1990s

The future of a sports facility in a town will be debated by a council.

North Northamptonshire Council said its executive would meet to discuss the proposed approval of a new 10-year agreement with the company that runs Arena Sports at Kettering Leisure Village (KLV).

The Reform UK-controlled council said it had a "natural break-clause" in its agreement with Phoenix Leisure Management and said it had reviewed the contract "in a bid to ensure the best provision possible for residents".

If approved at a meeting on Tuesday, the new agreement would allow the council to include a requirement to "develop, maintain, and implement an ongoing capital investment plan for the facilities".

The authority said it would ensure the facility would "remain fit for purpose" and "aligned with the long-term operational and strategic objectives" for KLV, which also includes a theatre, children's soft play area and conference facilities.

The council said the proposed agreement would also see Phoenix Leisure Management required to:

• Become a proactive partner in support of the North Northamptonshire Council Active Communities Strategy 2024-2029

• Deliver the provision of services to support the public health agenda and to encourage and support residents to become more active

• Ensure the facilities are fully accessible to the community during agreed minimum opening hours of between 09:00 and 22:00 on weekdays and between 09:00 and 17:00 at the weekend

The new agreement would include a clause for the premises to be available - for an agreed fee - for civil emergencies and major incidents in accordance with the council's emergency plan.

Kerry Purnell, the council's assistant director of communities and leisure, said: "It's essential that [KLV] continues to thrive.

"The new proposed agreement requires the management company to also develop, maintain, and implement an ongoing capital investment plan for the facilities, ensuring that they remain fit for purpose, compliant with all relevant regulations, and aligned with the long-term operational and strategic objectives for the site.

"This new agreement would mean that our residents can continue to get the most out of the facility for the coming years."