Parish Council announce “brighter future” for £120,000 loss making Penketh Pool

PENKETH Parish Council has announced a “brighter future” for Penketh Pool following a peer review, which will include restructuring how the business operates.

While staff have been written to there are currently no plans for redundancies althouygh the parish council is looking at taking over the hiring out of the facility to third-part businesses to avoid operating at a £120,000 subsidised loss.
The plans for the pool, which is owned and run by Penketh Parish Council under the trading name Kingfisher Leisure, is to open to the public for longer – including Sundays – and for 50 weeks of the year.
It is currently closed along with all other leisure facilities in the country, and the Parish Council is taking the opportunity to carry out essential repairs in preparation for its reopening.
As well as providing extended swimming capacity for Penketh residents, it is also hoped the extended hours and weekend opening will generate extra income for the pool itself. Alongside this idea is the plan to install vending machines for tea/coffee and snacks which could also add to the income per year, whilst providing some refreshments for those watching or swimming. The pool currently runs at a £120,000 a year loss, which is subsidised by the Parish Council and is considered unsustainable in the current climate. It has to be addressed.
The pool’s operation was the subject of a ‘Peer Review’ by LiveWire officials who compared it with a similar facility. The Review pointed out that the comparator pool did not operate at such a loss and it revealed that the Parish Council was not making best commercial use of the prime slots, therefore a full restructure of the operation must take place
The Parish Council realises that if the pool can become more economically viable, Councillors will not have to increase the parish precept to cover the pool’s costs.
As part of the restructure, Kingfisher Leisure staff are to be consulted on potential changes to their working hours and job roles. Most of the pool’s employees are currently furloughed under the government’s job retention scheme.
One of the financial issues that has been identified is that a significant proportion of the prime swimming slots are taken by commercial swimming operations. It has been suggested it would make more economic sense – and generate more income – if the Parish Council took over the provision of swimming lessons rather than hiring out the pool to third-party businesses.
Parish council chairman Ray McKay said: “The Peer Review was clear that we should not be operating the pool at such a significant, subsidised loss and we have to take steps to address that. By extending our swim offering to the people of Penketh and instituting our own commercial aspects of swimming provision, we will not only provide a significant and extended benefit to those who want to learn to swim and experienced swimmers alike, we will also be able to go some way to address the £120,000 pa shortfall.
“Obviously, this will have some impact on the commercial operations that currently occupy the best slots but first and foremost we have a responsibility to the taxpayers of Penketh, not to private businesses.”
Cllr McKay conceded the future plans were likely to have an impact on staff and said: “We have no plans for compulsory redundancies, but felt it would be sensible to enquire if anyone did not want to take on new roles or hours then they could opt to take voluntary redundancy. Letters have been sent to all members of staff informing them of the restructure of Kingfisher Leisure. This is the first step in involving the staff to include them in the plans, ideas and recommendations in the Peer Review.”
“As a Council we are really looking forward to optimising this pool to help it maximise its potential to generate more income. The freeing up of prime slots will massively improve the income it generates and reduce the contribution the Council has to make, therefore freeing up more money to be spent on Penketh.”