Councillors were today thrashing out details of a new policy to boost Castle Point's troubled leisure services.

They are already exploring public/private partnership deals, following a damning report from the Audit Commission which said leisure services in the borough were "poor".

Castle Point MP Bob Spink spoke of "an awful mess" in leisure services left by the previous council administration.

He said: "I have every confidence that the new council will get to grips with the problems and will improve the services for the benefit of all residents - and will cut the costs of those services."

However Dave Wells, council leader of the former Labour-led administration said: "It's easy to blame the previous administration.

"We're all in it together as councillors. The majority of residents of Castle Point had no complaints with leisure services - Waterside Farm is the second highest used sports centre in Essex.

"You should measure a public service by the number of people using it and whether or not they are happy with it - not necessarily if it makes a profit."

Councillor Norman Bambridge (Con, Winter Gardens) told how a Best Value review of leisure centres, community halls, bars, the golf course and driving range, sports and arts development highlighted the need for:

A reduction in financial losses at the golf course

A reduction in costs associated with the provision of community halls and bars

Reversing the decline in the physical condition of most of the council's leisure facilities.

He said: "The council is generating investment to refurbish and introduce sustained maintenance programmes to produce improved services for our customers. "

Published Friday, June 27, 2003

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