Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Paragraph: 15
The cessation of community sport countrywide during lockdown has hit under- represented groups the hardest.
Conclusion
The cessation of community sport countrywide during lockdown has hit under- represented groups the hardest. While we welcome the announcement that some recreational sports teams can now resume play, we are concerned about gyms and leisure centres. These facilities act as community hubs, often providing subsidised facilities to those who most need them, but have been the last sport sector to re- open. Following huge levels of uncertainty, it is essential that leisure facilities are protected and have the funds to ensure that the necessary hygiene and social distancing measures can be put in place to re-open fully. The worst outcome would be for local authority funding shortfalls to translate into leisure centre closures; if this were to happen, the Government would risk abrogating its own 2015 Sport Strategy commitment to increase participation in sport by under-represented groups. DCMS’s Sport Working Group must work with local councils to ensure necessary funding is in place to preserve leisure centre facilities. This must be done with urgency so that leisure centres are fully operational in August to provide crucial fitness opportunities for children during the school holidays.
Paragraph Reference:
15
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
to be active. It is important that leisure centres remain accessible for people from all backgrounds as we make efforts to return to normality after the Covid-19 lockdown period. Outdoor swimming pools have been able to open from 11 July and indoor gyms, leisure centres (including sports halls) and swimming pools in England have been able to reopen since 25 July. These facilities will be able to offer on-site services to customers, provided they are COVID-secure and follow government guidance. On Thursday 2 July, specific support for local authorities was announced by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government through the income guarantee scheme, which aims to support local authorities who have incurred irrecoverable loss of income from sales, fees and charges which they had reasonably budgeted for. The scheme will reimburse local councils for 75 pence in the pound for lost income, including for the leisure centres that they own and operate themselves. Cross-government conversations are ongoing with regards to support for local authorities that outsource the provision of leisure services.