The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has warned that the country’s Olympic legacy is being put under threat as authorities are being forced to cut leisure provision.
In a report published on 11 October, WLGA has revealed the bleak financial climate faced by local councils in Wales.
Based on its findings, the WLGA said the financial situation for Welsh local authorities will be tough until at least 2020-21, with even the most optimistic set of financial assumptions meaning Wales could see a 1.6% reduction in per person spending power in 2021 compared to 2013. A far more pessimistic financial projection could mean that Welsh councils’ spending power will be reduced by as much as 18 per cent.
This, the report argues, will “unavoidably lead to councils cutting leisure provision” as they seek to protect key services.
However, what is perhaps more likely, rather than cutting services to achieve savings, they will start to look more seriously to the private sector to protect their service and help deliver contracted savings by outsourcing the management of their leisure facilities. Expect opportunities to start coming forward in the near future.
Chris Marriott
*Director*
*Venues & Events*
[image: Description: cid:D1F266DF-8314-4424-AF80-BC2DE4067264@gateway.2wire.net]
81 Gower Street, London WC1E 6HJ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7323 0007
Mobile: +44 (0)7824 868 515
*www.thesportsconsultancy.com*
The contents of this email are strictly confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and should not be disseminated without prior authorisation. If this email has been sent to you in error, you are kindly asked to inform the sender accordingly and then delete the email.
