Purpose

To seek approval for opening hours for the
Council’s leisure facilities over the Christmas and New Year
holiday period 2025/26.

Decision

That approval is given to the opening hours
for the Council’s leisure facilities over the Christmas and
New Year holiday period 2025/26, as set out in appendix 1 to
Christmas and New Year Opening for Leisure Facilities 2025/2026
report.

Reasons for the decision

To allow for a reduced provision in customer
service at the Council’s leisure facilities over the
Christmas and New Year period, as has happened in previous years.
This is based on customer usage and feedback from previous
years.
To allow staff to take annual leave without the need to provide
cover.
To ensure that the centres are operating within the approved base
budget.

Alternative options considered

The council could do nothing and continue to
open the leisure facilities with the normal operating hours. This
option would mean a waste of resource in terms of heating, lighting
and staffing of the facilities for extremely low levels of customer
use.
Alternative opening hours to those contained in the proposal could
be considered. However, the proposal considers usage from previous
years and customer feedback of still wanting to access facilities
from 6.30am until the early evening.
The Richard Herrod Centre could be opened on Boxing Day. However,
usage has traditionally been very low on this day and the cost of
opening on this day is approximately £1,000 more than if the
centre was closed, which is down to additional staffing
costs.