A PROPOSAL that will see leisure facilities and functions in Denbighshire delivered by a council owned not-for-profit trading company will be discussed next Thursday.

The alternative delivery model will be debated by Full Council during a special meeting on Thursday, May 30. The proposal has previously been approved by the Council’s Cabinet.

Facilities, to come under the company, include the county’s seven leisure centres as well as the Prestatyn Nova, Rhyl's new SC2, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl Events Arena and events function, North Wales Bowls Centre, Rhyl Town Hall, Ruthin Craft Centre, Llangollen Pavilion, 1891, Café R (Ruthin) and Strategic Leisure.

Denbighshire County Council said the council-owned company would enable the service to trade more commercially, to help sustain the facilities, and will save the local authority £800,000 in the first year.

Graham Boase, Denbighshire’s Corporate Director for the Economy and Public Realm, said: “We are very proud of our leisure services in Denbighshire. Investment by the Council over the past 10 years has seen visitor numbers increase and our facilities are now first class and up-to-date, comparing favourably with the best leisure facilities in the industry.

“We have recognised the need for on-going investment at times of significant financial challenge, as we can clearly see the benefits to people’s health and well-being. We have also listened to the public as the demand for leisure sessions grew and continues to grow across the Council.

“This model will allow a more flexible, innovative and entrepreneurial approach to commercial leisure, whilst allowing the Council to retain complete control through the creation of a brand new board that will be responsible for running the company.

“As such the public should see very little difference in terms of the quality of the services provided or the ‘look and feel’ of the facilities themselves.”

The alternative delivery model (ADM) is new to the Council, but Councils across the UK are already using similar ADMs to deliver a range of functions.

If the business case for the plan is supported by Full Council a number of further decisions will be required over the summer and autumn to ensure the company is set up in a way that provides the Council with the necessary controls.