Councillors slam former leisure service operator

'BLOODY-MINDEDNESS' CLAIM OVER TRANSFER ISSUES

- By ALEC DOYLE Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

COUNCILLORS in Flint-shire have criticised former leisure service operators Aura for 'bloody-mindedness' that resulted in increased start-up costs and an income loss of £174,000 after the transfer of services last year.

But a new report has also revealed that Flint-shire Libraries and Leisure Ltd - trading under the newly named Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) Gwella - will save £102,000 per year compared to the arrangement with Aura and has reduced the management fees by 4.5%.

Presenting the financial impact report to Flintshire Cabinet on the transition from Aura Leisure and Libraries to Gwella, Cllr Mared Eastwood, Cabinet Member for Education, Welsh Language, Culture and Leisure, revealed there was an initial loss of income in November during the transfer period.