Extra £571k for county leisure firm as costs soar

DENBIGHSHIRE County Council's cabinet has agreed to hand its leisure company an extra £571,000 amid mounting cost pressures.

- By RICHARD EVANS Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) says that “since its creation” the company “has absorbed inflationary pressures for pay and other running costs” without “receiving an uplift” in the council contribution.

DLL claims the costs for 2020/21 to 2024/25 have increased by £3.1m, insisting it has met this need “by growing its business in a commercial manner as was intended in the original business case”.

‘The council currently pays in the region of £2.3m per annum to the company for leisure services.

But DLL says it is reaching its “operational ceiling” based on current cost and income streams, with its ability to grow “restricted” by complying with the council’s employee terms and conditions.