Published: Friday, 29th August, 2008 8:40am

SportPlus back in the swim after choppy times

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A 25 per cent rise in the number of swimmers using East Lothian"s sport and leisure centre pools and an overall increase in visitor numbers of 16,500 in the past year, has helped secure the future of the once-ailing SportPlus – which oversees the running of the council"s sports faciilities.

However, improved revenues have been offset by a surge in fuel costs, leaving SportPlus with an overall deficit of £53,000.

The improved performance of the organisation was outlined to members of East Lothian Councill at their meeting on Tuesday.

Previously, Sportplus had reported a cumulative loss of £686,000 for three years prior to March 2007, but its principal officer Bill Axon assured councillors that its position was now 'improved.'

News of an increase in users, along with a planned programme of improvements at centres across the county, was welcomed by councillors.

As a result, it is now thought that the local authority will reconsider previous plans to put on hold the handing over of control of the county"s six sport centres to external charitable organisation Active Leisure East Lothian.

However, it would appear that there are several hurdles still to overcome before a final decision is made.

Tom Shearer, community head of well-being, who chairs the project team assigned to oversee SportPlus" operations, admitted on Tuesday: 'There are still worries and concerns regarding SportPlus" financial position.

'SportPlus is a huge consumer of energy and it"s a worry for us that we won"t be able to limit the costs. Already there"s a difficulty emerging with regard to our energy costs.'

Depute council leader and project team member, Councillor Stuart Currie, said that, despite the concerns relating to energy costs, the fact that the deficit was held to £53,000 'sends a clear message to the staff of their achievements.'

Perhaps greater efforts could be made on the marketing front, he said. But that was something now being addressed by a cross-departmental project team, along with improved financial arrangements.

According to Mr Axon"s report these measures had resulted in an extra 78,524 customers being registered at the county"s swimming pool facilities in 2007/08 – almost 25 per cent more than the previous year.

The paper also noted a 16,524 rise in the number of customers using indoor sport and leisure facilities in the county.

Future improvements works planned for coming months include locker upgrades and repairs at Dunbar Leisure Pool, and a range of refurbishments at North Berwick Sport Centre. A major upgrade of body conditioning equipment in North Berwick and Meadowmill sports centres and Dunbar Leisure Pool is also being explored.

Council leader David Berry said of SportPlus: 'It"s come much closer to "washing its face" so to speak and I feel it is in a much healthier state.

'I"m grateful we looked at things like SportPlus and didn"t set it out as an independent organisation as was suggested a year ago.

The council had previously stated that if the division was successfully stabilised, the transfer of SportPlus to ALEL would go ahead next October.

Mr Currie hinted that this remained the case, saying: 'The aim of the administration when we had the discussion was to stabilise the financial position of SportPlus and that"s been done.

'That"s clearly the direction we are heading in.'

'It would be my intention to bring forward a further paper in September with much more detail with regard to the management of SportPlus,' added Mr Shearer.