Leisure centre to close in money-saving bid

The closure of a leisure centre in West Yorkshire will help a cash-strapped council save about £500,000 in the next two years, a review has found.

Baildon Recreation Centre in Bradford was "no longer viable" as it required £913,000 worth of maintenance to keep it "safe, accessible and functional", councillors have been told.

According to the review, part of a wider budget consultation as the authority tries to meet a £40m shortfall for the next year, the centre's closure would mean a further £91,000 of council savings in 2025-26.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for healthy people and places, said the decision to close the centre next April was "not taken lightly".

"We believe, however, that it is for the good of the financial health of the council," she said.

"The savings we make will allow us to continue providing high quality sports and leisure services across the district."

According to Bradford Council, the budget review, launched in February, had already identified £61,000 worth of savings for the current financial year, with a further £497,000 for 2025-26.

The majority of those savings - £406,000 in total – were the result of a "thorough review of operating procedures focusing on maintenance, staffing, programming of activities and financial management", the council said.

Ferriby said the closure of Baildon Recreation Centre was "for the good of the financial health of the council".

"The savings we make will allow us to continue providing high quality sports and leisure services across the district," she said.

“There are a small number of groups who still use the facility on a regular basis and we are working closely with them to find suitable alternative venues for them to continue their activities.”

Meanwhile, Bradford Council said it was planning how else it could save nearly £40m from next year's budget.

Measures included increasing fees and charges, using digital technology to work more efficiently, stopping commercial grounds maintenance for businesses and reviewing arrangements with third-party suppliers

These would be on top of the £33.84m savings proposals announced last month.

The council said there was also a proposed saving of £2.6m from the council’s "capital programme" - a reduction in borrowing costs it would have to pay next year after reducing its capital contribution to various infrastructure projects.

Susan Hinchcliffe, Labour leader of Bradford Council, said: “We have a five-year strategy to address our structural £120m budget shortfall and achieve financial sustainability.

"As part of this strategy, we need to find savings or income equivalent to around £40m next year, and for the next five years."

She added: “We are trying wherever possible to find new ways of working and new funding sources so that we can save money without cutting services.”

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