Decision details

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

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.

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.

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.