Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Accepted
We therefore asked the Department how it intended to address the short-term and long-term sustainability...
Conclusion
We therefore asked the Department how it intended to address the short-term and long-term sustainability challenges facing sports clubs and facilities. The Department told us that the primary responsibility for leisure provisions sits with local government.55 Similarly, it said that it was not responsible for government’s energy policy, but noted that the energy bill relief scheme will assist sports clubs in dealing with increased costs. It said it intended to continue working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on energy related issues.56 Sport England told us that it can provide small grants to help those local sports clubs struggling with energy costs to become more energy efficient.57 When pressed on how it will work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to tackle the challenge of ageing public facilities, the Department told us it “could not point [us] directly to an actual strategy on development of leisure facilities” and that decisions on investment were ultimately for local authorities. As part of the Department’s forthcoming new strategy on sport, it said it was aiming to get a better national picture of where all the facilities are and the state and condition of those facilities.58 Sport England also explained that it was not responsible for the national policy on the infrastructure of leisure facilities, but that it worked to provide “insight and understanding of how facilities can get people active”. It explained that it could not refurbish every facility in the country as this would be too expensive, but instead it can use its insight to target investment where this will have the greatest impact on participation numbers.59 53 GPA0019, Districts Councils’ Network, Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity,1 November 2022 54 Q 61; C&AG’s report, figure 16; GPA0017, Lawn Tennis Association, Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity, 1 November 2022 55 Qq 35, 61 56 Qq 56–57 57
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.