Cornwall Council has opened the bidding for private sector, voluntary or community organisations to run itsleisure centre's after the current contract runs out in 2017.

The cabinet made a decision today to invite organisations to submit their formal proposals in a "competitive procurement exercise" starting in January 2016.

Adam Paynter, the council’s Cabinet Member for Resources said: “We have made it clear that we want to keep leisure centres open in Cornwall but without an ongoing subsidy from the council. We believe that we can achieve our aim and expect to receive a number of bids from experienced leisure operators.”

The council's Leisure Resources Strategy aims to transfer the ownership and provision of the council’s leisure facilities and services to one or more organisations in either the private or voluntary and community sector.

This would allow it to cut the £5.1million subsidy it pays for the centress operation, at a time when it faces cuts of £196 million over four years.

The council carried out a "soft market test process" in August and September and found a number of organisations interest in the leisure portfolio, including trusts, charities, social enterprises, and not for profit organisations, all of which are experienced leisure operators.

The aim is to transfer all the centres to one operator, to enable cross-financing from the most highly used centres to subsidise those which are less well used, and prevent potential bidders picking off only the most profitable facilities.

The council said: At the same time, however, the report recognised that four of the facilities – Par Running Track, Newquay Sports Centre, Falmouth Pavilion [sic] and the Phoenix Leisure Centre, could be considered for devolution as they are either leasehold properties (Newquay and Phoenix Leisure Centres) or are outside the traditional wet and dry (pools and gym facilities) set up.

"As a result the report suggested that, while these facilities are included in the main tender process, potential devolution solutions are also pursued at the same time.  If successful, these devolution options would take effect at the end of the current Tempus Leisure contract – April 2017."

The original report considered by members of the Resources Portfolio Advisory Committee earlier this month recommended that centres were transferred on a freehold basis to enable any future operator to raise funds to carry out improvements to the centres more easily and ensure that the council does not continue to be liable for maintaining them in the future.

However potential bidders will now also be given the option to submit a proposal based on a long-term leasehold arrangement with the council.

Members also agreed in principle to offering a loan facility on commercial terms to the successful bidder to enable them to address the key backlog maintenance issues, if necessary.

Council gives go ahead for next stage of future management of leisure centres from Cornwall Council on Vimeo.