Leisure centre could close in cost-cutting measure

Harry Mitchell leisure centre could shut in an effort to save Sandwell Council money

A leisure centre could be closed as part of a council's cost-cutting plans.

Sandwell Council revealed it was looking to close Harry Mitchell leisure centre to help save more than £500,000 this year.

It is also considering giving up the Hadley Stadium sports complex in Smethwick and taking steps to reduce running costs at Tipton Sports Academy.

The plans were discussed by the council's budget scrutiny board at a meeting on Thursday.

Sandwell Council pays £4m a year to Sandwell Leisure Trust to run the borough's facilities on its behalf, but is responsible for repairs and maintenance.

Ben Percival, an assistant director at the council responsible for the borough's leisure centres, said the money-saving measures involved "transferring the council-owned Hadley Stadium to a third party".

He also said Tipton Sports Academy would be run with a "significantly different operating model" with a "significantly lower cost".

The council is also considering giving up Hadley Stadium

Councillor Ashley Lewis, who represents Smethwick, said the facilities, especially Harry Mitchell, had been "subject to managed decline".

Councillor Ellen Fenton, chair of the budget scrutiny board, said: "These venues are not the first venues that we have watched decline. I would want some reassurances that we are not going to see repeat behaviour with even more venues."

"Hadley Stadium is a well-loved venue for many people on the southern side of the border. Many schools in the area have their sports days there."

She said the proposals showed "a company that was not looking after Sandwell's assets."

The council's contract with Sandwell Leisure Trust is due to run until 2027.

A decision by the council's cabinet in June 2022 to consider forming a company to replace Sandwell Leisure Trust has been postponed.

The council is looking into ways to reduce running costs at Tipton Sports Academy

Alan Lunt, the council's director for place, rejected accusations the facilities had been deliberately neglected, saying they had actually seen "managed improvement."

"We have got to make sure that we balance the needs of the community with our ability as a council to actually manage effectively and to afford what we have at the moment," he told councillors.

Sandwell Council said it managed about 4,000 properties – including leisure centres – with the current maintenance budget equalling about £600 per "asset" each year.

The authority said it would cost at least £1.5m to refurbish Harry Mitchell leisure centre to a "usable" standard.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.