Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
The Department does not know if leisure facilities are financially sustainable or are delivering the...
Recommendation
The Department does not know if leisure facilities are financially sustainable or are delivering the sports facilities that communities need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sport England and the Department distributed over £900 million to support sports clubs and leisure centres. But leisure facilities now face new challenges. The energy bill for the leisure sector is expected to rise from £500 million in 2019 to £1–1.2 billion for 2022. Some 70% of councils are considering scaling back their leisure services in response to these financial pressures. Sport England recognises the fragile financial position of some leisure providers, but lacks understanding of the support the sector may need. Leisure facilities also face longer standing challenges. Many types of sporting facilities have an average age of more than 30 years and are in poor condition. For example, 45% of public park tennis courts are categorised as being in poor, very poor or unplayable condition. The Department asserts that it is working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to help the sector deal with the impact of rising energy costs. But it is unable to point to a strategy with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities for the maintenance or development of leisure facilities. 8 Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity Recommendation 7: The Department should urgently review the condition of leisure facilities and, working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and other government departments, take action to ensure their financial sustainability. The Department should write to us with an update on this review by June 2023. Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity 9 1 Participation rates in sport and physical education
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and highlights the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, and the £63m Swimming Pool Support Fund. DCMS will provide an update in June 2023 and is working on a facilities strategy.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. clubs can have on individuals' physical and mental wellbeing. They also provide vital social spaces and community hubs. The government also recognises that the recent rises in cost of living and energy costs is of concern for many clubs and local authorities. In response to this, DCMS have provided support via two schemes which leisure facilities were eligible for. In September 2022, the government announced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) which provided £18 billion worth of support for all businesses and other non-domestic energy users. This will then be replaced with the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) which will support businesses between April 2023 and March 2024. In addition to these schemes in March 2023 the government announced the £63m Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) that will provide targeted support to leisure centres with swimming pools to help mitigate short term pressures and deliver longer term sustainability through capital investments. Through the SPSF, the government will continue to review the condition and financial suitability of the sector and provide targeted support as necessary. DCMS will be able to provide an update on the progress of this work in June 2023. DCMS is also working on the creation of facilities strategy which will outline the government’s vision for the future of these vital assets including to provide guidance to the sector and local partners on the role of this provision, reinforcing the need to join up with the health sector, and encouraging investment in sustainable facilities.