Leisure centres across the Isle of Wight could be in the firing line as an operational review is carried out while money pressures continue.
It follows a dire warning last week from the cabinet member for adult social care and public health, Councillor Karl Love, who said services may have to close to pay for some of the Island’s social care needs if the council is not given more money from the government.
The council is set to go over its adult social care budget by £2,647,000 due to rising bills, the struggle to recruit care staff and pressures in providing care packages.
Speaking at the corporate scrutiny committee, Councillor Love said:
“We don’t have the ability to generate the money on the Island unless we significantly close things down, such as loss-making leisure centres as has happened in other areas.
“I am not saying we are doing it but it is something we are having to think about because we still have a statutory responsibility to keep adult social care services going.”
The authority is also facing a hole in its leisure and sports development budget of £1,279,000 due to a lack of income and utility costs.
Despite 1Leisure gym and fitness facilities being open again following the COVID-19 pandemic, One Card membership levels are yet to return to what they used to be.
The Isle of Wight Council says membership in September this year was at 73% of what it was in September 2019, although this is still over its target. The reduction, however, has not gone unnoticed and a review of services at Westridge, The Heights and Medina is currently being undertaken.
In documents seen by the council’s cabinet last week, it was said the authority recognises the importance of the services to Islanders and visitors but is carrying out the review in light of the large increases in fuel costs and the overall impact of the rise in the cost of living.
It is thought the review will be finished by the end of the year, in time for setting the council’s budget, and then presented to senior managers, directors and the cabinet member for internal use.
The outcome, the spokesperson said, will depend on the findings but if significant decisions are required then the relevant information would be made public.
All such places should be either private or closed. Why should all those who DON’T use such places fund those who do?
Again IF as most are, you are on benefits, you don’t have to pay, so the rest of society pays more, despite those whingers on benefits getting ever more handouts.
Close everything and if it don’t pay, don’t have it. If it DOES pay, then it will be in private hands. Simple.
The stupidity of this comment is beyond.
Where is there any mention on people receiving benefit payments getting free gym and leisure centre access?
With your logic, we should close the schools, I’ve not used those in years and the people who do don’t pay anything towards them, oh and the hospital as well, I’ve only been once, why should I be paying?!
♀️
Have you not come across Ivy before? They regularly post right-wing extremist gibberish about people on “benefits” getting stuff they don’t pay for at any opportunity, no matter how tenuous the link is to the article.
ahh smiffy – the hand wringing do gooder apologist that champions the cause of the spongers, work shy layabouts, leeches and other deadbeats.
following the dumb leftie policies, we end up in a state of mediocrity, with so many demanding their entitlements, however, no one working to provide them as leftie policies always mean better off doing nothing.
of course, most here wont have lived through the 1978 winter of discontent under labour – strikes public and private, demands for higher pay rises from unions, instead of controlling inflation, electricity blackouts, 3 day weeks, rubbish piled high in the streets. Labours committment to socialism tore itself apart as its effects were wrecking the country – hence thatcher after.
Yawn.
You and your chums’ ridiculous extreme right posturing is now utterly boring.
We all know what you are.
Smiffy – whilst you portray yourself as the saviour of the deadbeats – a rather pointless exercise as they will just rinse you for what you have, the rest of us will be ensuring that we are ok – no nobility in poverty
He comes across as a normal decent person.
I suspect you are the kind of person who’d drown kittens for fun.
Of COURSE it is not mentioned, that is my point of telling people like you, who are so unaware of just what means tested benefit claimants DO receive.
For the BBC and media only love to tell you the hard luck side, they NEVER tell you of what these benefit people DO NOT have to pay for, nor the extras they receive which others then have to fund by paying more.
ALL means tested benefit claimants get cheap or free access to COUNCIL run gyms etc.
Private ones don’t allow such, hence private ones make money, Council ones don’t.
Clearly schools are NECESSARY, AS ARE HOSPITALS.
It is YOU who are deliberately making a fool of yourself and not of me.
Just because you don’t LIKE what I say, doesn’t mean it isn’t so.
Someone needs a Snickers.
Would loveeeee to see some cold hard facts ivy, as I suspect your talking absolute rubbish.
Let’s just look at the reactions on your comment and mine and decide whos the real fool here.
cold hard facts below…
isle of wight council leisure website…
https://1leisure.co.uk/one-card-membership/#1574248488086-5-21576145979346
If you receive any of the benefits listed below you can apply for a One Card at a concessionary rate.
So?
You are always bleating about fat lazy benefit scroungers. Now you are bleating because they are being encouraged to get fit.
And concessionary rate. Not free.
You know, concessionary, like you old farts get for just about anything and everything despite the vast majority of you being able to afford full price.
Timms – they should be getting jobs, not getting cut price gym membership, as well as money off the hard working taxpayer
These old farts you refer to, properly worked all their lives (not just 16hrs) meaning they have paid into the system for a good 50 years+ (as most were working f/t at 15/16 years old) Some fought in wars to keep this country free. Some grew up during a war. Most weren’t given things for free, you worked for them. if you were lucky enough to be given a free council home to rent. then they were grateful, and many worked hard to buy these homes over time. show some respect if it wasn’t for old farts, you wouldn’t have half the things you have today.
you’re right let’s see facts, from both sides. i am sure there is truth from both sides. dividing us is playing into their hands………
No one gets free gym membership on benefits only a referral from a doctor can you get free membership!
Everyone pays the same price. People on benefits don’t get half what you think they do! Let’s hope one day you don’t need the help
Moan moan moan
Very sad for the island if the leisure centers do close.
Centres not centers.
Spelling police have arrived
Wow your so intelligent with your super spelling skills.
If you had read the article properly in the first place it even spells it for you, try it next time eh.
Get a life 🙂
You’re, not your lol!
Ha ha lol
According to Mr Love, some of his clients? cost over 1 million a year. So is the overspend on 3 people?. As average wages are about £20000 per annum , this equates to over 50 peoples hard earned money. Just continually ripping off council tax payers is unreasonable as many are struggling with no help. Council tax was for the general services used by all.
Not just council wages, pensions, non floating bridge, never ending free money for the inactive. I’m sure some will disagree, most likely the recipients of all the largesse. But as one of the many, struggling to exist. Who are ripped off by this councils out of control budget, enough is enough.
How can private company’s have better equipment, charge less and are making high profits,yet council run loosing money?
It’s a good question, having worked for council leisure services I have a few thoughts… lack of any sort of management, accountability for staff from director level of the leisure services. Staff knew they could do the bare minimum because management didn’t care. Also promoting certain groups of people around the council into roles they have no skills or awareness off doesn’t help.
You mention the better equipment, the council has a tendency not to keep up with maintenance and updates until they desperately need them, by by the time they have finally invested any potential customers have found alternative commercial options.
I don’t agree with closing public services, but the councils leisure services have needed an overhaul for yea
Because those on ‘benefits’ DON’T pay.
They pay for very little in life IF those not on benefits could be bothered to find out.
But the BBC and media love to highlight ONLY their woes, and don’t say all the freebies they get, such as cheap or no rent, no council tax, free school meals, free school transport, free dental and prescriptions for entire family, free school uniforms, thousands in child tax credits and IF doing 16hrs work, thousand as well in working tax credits, plus 20 per week child allowance, plus extra funding for heating and cost of living, more if they can claim disability for one of the family, etc.
Check out the FACTS
Many also earn doing hair, nails, growing or selling drugs, or work on the sly for cash.
You have a serious problem with people less fortunate than you.
Not just ivy, we all have a problem when having to fund the feckless, useless and workshy, and those who using the womb as a means of supporting their lifestyle but expecting others to fund it all.
Ivy is right, and hits raw nerves hence the backlash.
What has she said that isn’t right?
What has she said that isn’t right?
Everything.
I suspect that Searle is a bit of a failure in her own life. You see this frequently in bitter and twisted old people. Likes to look down on people but is so close to the bottom of the pile that the only people she can look down on are those receiving means tested benefits.
Pretty sad, really.
Just close them, we live on an island go for a nice walk or a run or a swim in the real world, outside.
Let me know when you’re out for a swim this winter. I’ll like to watch you freeze your arse off.
Will also need to dodge the sewage being pumped out on the daily.
There wouldn’t be a hole in any of the council’s budgets if the greedy lazy councilors didn’t pay themselves rediculas salaries as they are civil servants shouldn’t we the tax payers dictate to them how much they are going to be paid after all this is allegedly a “democracy” and we are their employers and in my experience in life your employer dictates what you get paid and can reduce it or increase it based on performance
It’s officers and manager’s that get salary,too many manager’s pushing emails and endless meetings etc that’s were money goes. If Centres can’t self fund I agree why should I pay for something I never used , like why do pensioners have to pay council tax for kid’s education when half parents are on benefits and could be working, like other comments – shouldn’t have children till you can afford them!.
Councillors aren’t paid and aren’t civil servants. They get allowances to cover expenses which are on public record for your perusal at:
https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13425
If your councillor doesn’t live up to your expectations, you vote them out at the next election. That is how democracy works.
In a democracy with open decisions, you are correct. However, this Alliance thrive on secrecy and ignoring the electorate.
If you use them or not, affordable leisure centres are critical parts of a community. People staying healthy, children learning to swim in a safe place, when the weather is too bad to swim in the sea… How about pay for them by means testing free bus pass benefit? and possibly winter fuel allowance benefit? I don’t use them so why should I pay for them…no?
Maybe this council need to cut down on staff and wages,, ie the one that gets £170,000.00 annually for sitting around doing nowt !! I bet there are many employees in the council that do not do a full days work…
The fool that says go private.. REALLY… that’s what happened to the ferries….
And don’t forget the ice rink, didn’t that go private? Not sure.
I would love to see an Item by Item breakdown of what our council tax actually pays for ?? And since this is Isle of Wight… why do we have to contribute to Hampshire ??? ( ie: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police )
If they didn’t use taxpayers money for their pension pot’s, if they didn’t get a overpriced computer system ,if they didn’t get electric cars, if they didn’t take car’s through car wash ( most expensive I have seen it)
if they didn’t buy the non floating heap of junk ….
If if if …
If they listened to the people…..
So many ifs ….
But they only line their own pockets and we pay 4 it….
Services will be cut ….
Well look at all the ifs…
Don’t forget they want a new heating system and led lighting.
Don’t do it put money our money into the island …
I think a lot of the things you have listed are needed in any modern organisation.
Certain things like car washing – yeah that feels perhaps excessive. And we all know how much of a mess the floating bridge has been… But thing like computer systems when we live in a modern world, efficient heating for the buildings, pensions for workers? Sounds fairly reasonable to me.
It often feels like the public will only be happy when staff at the council work by candle light on pen and paper in a dilapidated shack.
How many members of staff will lose their jobs? how many of those will have to apply for universal credit, housing benefit? My heart is with the very worried staff
What the council should do is get everyone with a membership to pay the same, in other words those who have been a member for years should pay the same a a new member, some are paying half of what a new membership costs for the same benefits. Come on IOW council get your act together and charge everyone the same that way you wouldn’t be losing money?