Catmose Sports Centre in Oakham could close if Rutland County Council doesn’t approve a new contract next week
A sports centre’s future hangs in the balance just a year after it was saved from closure.
Campaigners battled to save Catmose Sports Centre in Oakham last February when the operator’s contract came to an end.
Rutland County Council had insisted any future contract would need to ensure no costs were incurred by either the council or Catmose College, which owns the buildings.
When no one suitable came forward, the council announced that the centre would close but more than 2,000 people signed a petition against the decision. The council went on to extend its contract with Stevenage Leisure Ltd, but this too is coming to an end.
Next week councillors will decide whether or not to sign a new lease with a leisure operator. If they decide not to, the council will look to surrender its lease of the facilities with Catmose College and public access will end.
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The centre has around 900 members and is home to 18 sports clubs and the Wild Camp holiday club. They are being encouraged to voice their concerns via the Save Catmose Sports Centre group on Facebook.
County councillor Christine Wise (Lib Dem), who is cabinet member for communities, said: “We’re nearing the end of a second tender process to try and secure a leisure operator who can take on a new contract for the running of Catmose Sports Centre.
“This time we have actively sought and considered bids that would incur additional costs to the council, so there is a lot for councillors to consider.
“Catmose Sports Centre was only ever intended to run at net-nil cost, with the operator banking any profits they make. User numbers have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, while running costs have risen sharply, requiring us to inject more than £800,000 into the centre to keep the doors open.
“I understand that everyone who uses Catmose Sports Centre will be eager to know the outcome and we will share details of the decision just as soon as the procurement process allows.”
The council has not revealed how many companies submitted a bid for the contract or how many of those bids will be considered.
The decision will be made during a meeting on Monday, March 25, starting at 7pm. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online via the council’s website, however the discussion is likely to take place in a private session because some of the information is “commercially sensitive”. If this happens, the public will be asked to leave the meeting and the live stream will be suspended.
The decision will not be announced until all bidders have been notified, which could take up to a week.
If councillors accept a bid which incurs a cost to the council, the budget for next year will need to be reviewed to agree additional savings or service cuts.
The council has spent £801,807 keeping the centre afloat during the past four years.