Swimming pools/stats

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request you to provide me with the following information.

1) How many swimming pools located in the Brighton and Hove local authority area were available to the public at 1 April 2010 and of those how many were: a) 25m pools; b) 50m pools and c) other pools.

(a) There are 6 x 25m pools

(b) There are no 50m pools

(c) There are 12 x other pools

Total of 18 pools, some of which have limited availability to the public e.g school pools and some of which are private sector gyms e.g David Lloyd, Virgin Active.

· Please indicate against each category how many were:

i. located in premises owned and operated by the local authority None

ii. located in premises owned by the local authority but operated by a third party 2 x 25m 6 x other

iii. located in premises not owned or operated by the local authority 2 x 25m 4 x other

iv. Located in a school premises and whether the school is state run, academy or any other status. 2 x 25m (1 private, 1 state) 2 x other (1 private, 1 state)

2) What changes have been made to public swimming pool provision since 1 April 2010 including the opening of new facilities, the closure of facilities or alterations to opening times?

Below are changes that we are aware of. There may have been changes to other facilities e.g private sector facilities that we are not aware of.

Brighton Swimming Centre (formerly St Mary’s Hall School) opened
Opening hours of Prince Regent Swimming Complex extended to open half an hour earlier from 1/9/12
Opening hours of King Alfred Leisure Centre extended to open half an hour earlier from 24/2/13
3) What were the fees, charges including membership fees for each category of user including for clubs and schools on 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2013 for each pool?

Below are the fees and charges for Council-owned pools, operated by Freedom Leisure.

Prince Regent
King Alfred
St Luke’s


2010
2013
2010
2013
2010
2013

Adult
£3.60
£4.30
£3.60
£4.30
£3.60
£4.30

Junior / Over 60
£2.20
£2.55
£2.20
£2.55
£2.20
£2.55

Family
£9.05
£10.80
£9.10
£10.80
£9.05
£10.80

Monthly
£35.50
£40.45
£34.50
£39.05
-
-

School
£1.75
£1.95
Hire of Teaching Pool / half of Main Pool - £19.70 per ½ hr
Hire of Teaching Pool / half of Main Pool - £21.20 per ½ hr
£1.75
£1.95

Clubs
£143
£162.45
£68.75
£76.25
-
-

4)

5) What was the expenditure in your local authority for running and maintaining swimming pools in the financial year 2010/11 and what is the budget, for the financial year 2013/14?

The Council’s swimming pools are part of the management contract with Freedom Leisure. The maintenance responsibilities for Council-owned swimming pools are split between the Council as landlord and Freedom Leisure as the operator. The Council’s budget for its maintenance responsibilities covers all six sports facilities including three ‘dry’ facilities, Withdean Sports Complex, Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre and Stanley Deason in addition to the swimming pools shown in the table above. The budget also covers four paddling pools which are also operated by Freedom Leisure. The total budget is managed across all six sports facilities and four paddling pools and therefore covers more than just the swimming pools.

6) What income was generated from fees, charges including membership fees in the financial year 2010/11 and what is the budgeted income for the financial year 2013/14?

Prior to the existing contract with Freedom Leisure which began in April 2011, all of the above facilities apart from the King Alfred were operated under contract by DC Leisure. Under the terms of both of these management contracts, the income is retained by the contractor. In 2010/11, the King Alfred was operated directly by the Council and so the income was retained by the Council. The income generated from the King Alfred in 2010/11 was £904,825.66. In April 2011 the King Alfred was added to the wider contract with Freedom Leisure and so the Council does not now retain the income.