HYNDBURN Council bosses are no longer subsidising Hyndburn Leisure, leaving the trust to “stand on its own two feet”.

Former Clayton-le-Moors councillor Nick Collingridge asked council leader Miles Parkinson whether the council was still propping up the trust with financial contributions.

But Cllr Parkinson said there would be £75,000 in funding over the next year and that would be the end of it.

He added: “We have taken some very tough decisions over the years and made Hyndburn Leisure stand on its own two feet.

“The buildings are our responsibility but that is it.”

Hyndburn Leisure manages the operation of eight leisure, sport, culture and community facilities requiring an operating budget of £2.5 million and a team of over 70 employees.

Along with other council services, the trust has been charged with achieving significant efficiency savings, resulting in a reduced annual grant from April last year of £75,000 being committed until 2019/20.

The management fee, which is payable as a subsidy to the trust by the council to operate the facilities and provide a broad range of affordable services, has reduced to just 3 per cent of the trust’s overall budget.

Cllr Parkinson added: "The major subsidy of well over £1 million, which [former councillor] Ken Moss worked with Hyndburn Leisure to reduce, has gone.

"Obesity is a major problem in the borough and we want to make sure Hyndburn Leisure gets to those hard to reach groups. That's why it's pleasing to support Accrington Stanley Community Trust with their investment at Higham's of more than £2 million.

"We need to stop being a couch potato society."

Three council-owned buildings are leased to Hyndburn Leisure - Hyndburn Leisure Centre, Mercer Hall Leisure Centre and part of Accrington Town Hall.

In it's annual update to council bosses at the end of the last financial year, the trust had a membership base of about 2,500 members and an annual income target of £800,000.

Chief executive Lyndsey Sims said: "We have a strong track record of retaining members but are operating in an ever-expanding market place.

"For us to maintain market share and meet retention and growth targets it is important for the trust to provide high quality fitness equipment, which is periodically replenished to ensure the equipment offer remains fit for purpose and keeps pace with customer expectations."