Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Accepted
As part of measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic, sports facilities were closed multiple times...
Conclusion
As part of measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic, sports facilities were closed multiple times by the government. During the pandemic, Sport England distributed £271 million to the grassroots sport and physical activity in financial support and the Department provided £700 million for organisations affected by the loss of spectator ticket income and for public leisure centres.48 We asked what had been the impact of this funding, given that participation rates had not increased during this period. Sport England told us that the funding was emergency funding to enable the sector to survive the pandemic rather than to support increase in activity levels, and that it considered the funding to have been “absolutely necessary”49. The Department told us that over 1,600 organisations had benefited from the sport survival package, and that no club that received funding went into administration during the pandemic.50
Government Response Summary
The government agreed to review the condition of leisure facilities, working with other departments, and take action to ensure their financial sustainability, aiming to provide an update by June 2023; they also mentioned providing support through the Energy Bills Discount Scheme and the Swimming Pool Support Fund.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
7. PAC conclusion: The Department does not know if leisure facilities are financially sustainable or are delivering the sports facilities that communities need. 7. PAC recommendation: 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. 7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: before Summer 2023 7.2 The government recognises the positive impact that leisure facilities, gyms and sports clubs can have on individuals' physical and mental wellbeing. They also provide vital social spaces and community hubs. 7.3 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. 7.4 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. 7.5 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.