As energy bills soar and footfall at leisure centres drops, the Isle of Wight council is facing a more than £1 million hole in its budget.
At the end of June, the council was estimating a £1,135,000 deficit in its leisure centres budget if things continued in the way they were until March 2023.
Jarman: Cost pressures have accelerated
Cllr Chris Jarman, cabinet member for strategic finances and corporate resources, told the council’s corporate scrutiny committee earlier this month the cost pressures, however, have since accelerated.
The council was unable to provide the more recent figures with those for the month ending August 2022 being worked on.
Used part of £14.2 million Covid contingency fund
To deal with the increasing financial pressures, the authority has brought forward savings and used the part of the £14.2 million Covid contingency fund it set aside to fill the gaps in finances caused by the pandemic.
Short-term fixes not sustainable
However, Cllr Jarman said those were only short-term fixes and they could not continue to fund it like they were.
He said the council needed to find either a more strategic way of funding them, seek money from the government or restructure.
Predicted losses for 2021
This time last year, the council was predicting nearly £1.3 million would be lost due to the impact of Covid on its leisure centres, but that was able to be stopped.
According to the draft accounts for the council’s last financial year, the authority was able to bank £284,000 instead, due to savings made in staffing costs and support provided for Covid-related income losses.
Increase in One Cards
Council figures show the number of One Cards, giving unlimited access to its sports and leisure facilities, had steadily increased in recent months following the lifting of Covid restrictions, but was still not at the same level as before the pandemic.
Compared to June 2019, June 2022 had 2,307 fewer memberships, but still had four times as many users than those in June 2021, when restrictions were in place.
Pace of recovery slower than anticipated
A council spokesperson said the financial pressures show the pace of recovery from the pandemic is slower than anticipated.
Increased utility costs are also impacting the budget, with contracts starting in 2022/23 seeing a 350 per cent increase in electricity costs and 500 per cent in gas over a year.
Reduce carbon emissions and utility consumption
Leisure centres have recently undergone work to reduce carbon emissions and utility consumption and have seen solar panels installed.
LED lighting, air-source heat pumps, a new building management system and high-efficiency circulation pumps have been installed.
They said it is too early to work out how much money has been saved.
Performance being constantly reviewed
The performance of the centres — at Medina in Newport, Westridge and The Heights in Sandown — is being constantly reviewed.
Steps are being taken to minimise expenditure and maximise usage and income, through One Card promotions.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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