Content

1.1          
The Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) comprises two elements: a
£20 million revenue fund (Phase 1) and a £40m capital
fund (Phase 2).  Phase 1 is currently
open for applications.  Closing date is
11 August 2023.

1.2          
Sport England are managing the fund on behalf of the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport
(DCMS).

1.3          
The fund aims to support leisure facilities with swimming pools
experiencing increased cost pressures, potentially leaving them
vulnerable to closure or significant service reduction, leading to
areas without accessible public swimming.  Specifically, the fund objectives are to:
    
a)   
Minimise the reduction of viable swimming pool provision or
significant service reduction within local authority areas,
targeting sites most vulnerable to closure, to maintain levels of
viable swimming provision at current levels until April
2025.

b)   
Prevent gaps in public leisure provision emerging, measured by
maintaining the percentage of people living within 20
minutes’ drive of a public swimming pool at the same level,
by April 2025.

c)    
Prioritise support in those areas of greatest socio-economic need
(as evidenced by deprivation), where all other factors are
equal.

d)   
Encourage the leisure sector to transition to a position of
environmental and financial sustainability, increasing the number
of local authorities with a strategic plan for leisure and active
wellbeing, aligned with the upcoming Sport Strategy, by April
2024.

1.4          
Risks of closures have come about for those struggling to make ends
meet because of increased energy and maintenance costs, weakened
operator reserves and staff retention difficulties.

1.5          
Sport England recognise that this funding cannot support all
facilities with pools in England, although it acknowledges that
local pools provide accessible opportunities for communities to be
active and play a vital part in fulfilling schools’ statutory
obligation to teach children to swim.

1.6          
The eligible costs that can be included in applications are utility
costs attributable to swimming pools and pool chemical
costs.

1.7          
Successful bids will receive a minimum of £10,000 and a
maximum of £500,000, for all the facilities included in their
application.  2021/22 Financial Year
will be used as the baseline from which to assess increased costs
being experiences in 2023/24.

1.8          
Cumberland Council will need to apply on behalf of eligible
swimming pools within our area.  The
Council’s application must have approval from our Section 151
officer.

1.9          
The funding award decision is final, and applicants will be
notified of the outcome of their application by the end of
September 2023.  Payments will be made
direct to pool operators and will not come via the
Authority.

1.10      
Cumberland Council Officers have worked with colleagues operating
the area’s leisure facilities to identify pools at risk,
based on Sport England’s objectives for Phase 1:
·      
Minimise swimming pool closures.
·      
Prevent gaps in public leisure provision.
·      
Prioritise support in areas of greatest socio-economic need (as
evidenced by deprivation).
·      
Encourage the leisure sector to transition to a position of
environmental and financial sustainability.

1.11      
The following facilities are being included in the Cumberland
application:
 

Workington Leisure Centre

Operated by GLL on
behalf of Cumberland Council
Application value -
£211,685
 

Sands Centre

Operated by GLL on
behalf of Cumberland Council
Application value -
£257,062
 

Wigton Baths

Operated by Wigton
Baths Trust
Application value -
£29,863
 
 

Cockermouth Leisure Centre

Operated by GLL on
behalf of Cumberland Council
Application value -
£65,164
 

Copeland Pool & Leisure
Centre

Operated by GLL on
behalf of Cumberland Council
Application value -
£148,779
 
 
Total =
£712,553