THE tender for several Tempus leisure centres in Cornwall, including Launceston’s Pheonix Leisure Centre and Bude Splash, have been handed over to GLL.

Tempus Leisure, the Cornish charity that runs 14 leisure centres and holds sporting events across Cornwall, was unsuccessful in its bid to win the contract.

Cornwall Council’s cabinet announced on Wednesday, November 9, that GLL will take over the tender from Tempus, who currently run Cornwall’s leisure facilities, to provide leisure centres and facilities, which have previously been owned and maintained by the council. The tender will officially be handed over in April 2017.

GLL currently run over 200 leisure centres and facilities under their national not-for-profit portfolio, which they have steadily built over the last 20 years. They run many leisure centres all over the country under their national brand ‘Better’.

Announcing the decision to transfer the tender to GLL, Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin Adam Paynter, the council’s cabinet member for resources, said: “Firstly I’d like to place on record my thanks to Tempus Leisure for their fantastic work over the years running Cornwall’s leisure facilities in such a professional manner.

“We have always made it clear that we want to keep leisure centres open in Cornwall but without an ongoing subsidy from the council. By taking the initiative, carefully considering all the options and then going through a vigorous tendering process, we are confident that in awarding this contract to GLL we will secure the future of the council’s leisure facilities.

“The excellent staff that already work in our leisure centres will transfer over to the new operator on their existing terms and conditions.”

Cllr Paynter added: “This is a good deal for the council and for Cornwall. Not only will it save almost £3.5-million a year, which can be used to support other services, but we have secured a commitment from the new operators that all existing club bookings will be honoured.

“There is also a commitment to deliver work experience, volunteering and apprenticeship placements over the life of the contract; a programme to support Cornwall’s talented athletes and to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Cornwall. Following today’s decision to award the contract to GLL, we will be working closely with them and the current operators to ensure a smooth transition on April 1, 2017.”

All the leisure facilities currently owned and maintained by the council will be included in the contract although the council will be continuing discussions with local community groups.

Speaking on the transfer of contracts from Tempus to GLL Lucy Black, Tempus Leisure’s chair of trustees, said: “We are extremely disappointed to have been unsuccessful in our bid for the future operation of leisure services within Cornwall. We know that we submitted an excellent proposal but this was obviously surpassed by our competitor. We will be taking some time to consider the next steps for Tempus.”

Tempus Leisure chief executive, Simon Blamey, said: “I would like to say a big thank you to all our customers that have supported us over the past five years; we have delivered significant growth in community engagement across Cornwall and believe that a solid foundation has been laid, which the new incoming operator will be able to build upon.

“We would like to reassure our customers that we will work hard with the new provider to ensure a smooth transition to the alternative arrangements so that you can continue to enjoy the use of your community facilities.

“Finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to each and every member of our staff. They have worked so hard on behalf of Tempus to deliver an improved service across all areas of the organisation and we have certainly enjoyed a host of successes over the past five years. I wish them every success within the new organisation.”

The contract will now be handed over to GLL who will be investing in the leisure centres and the equipment, which will be initially financed through council borrowing. This will then be repaid to the council with interest over the life of the contract.

Chris Symons, GLL’s director of development said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to deliver leisure facilities in Cornwall on behalf of Cornwall Council.

“As a charitable social enterprise we have no shareholders to pay, instead we plough any surplus back into improving facilities and boosting community sports participation.

“These are exciting times for GLL, staff and customers in Cornwall and we look forward to showing the difference our social enterprise operation brings.”

The facilities included in the contract have been awarded to GLL on a long-term lease basis, which means that the council will continue to own the freehold of the sites.

Along with Launceston Phoenix and Bude Splash, GLL’s new leisure portfolio will consists of Bodmin Dragon, Falmouth Pavilions Gyllyngdune Gardens, Falmouth Ships and Castles, Helston Sports Centre, Liskeard Lux Park, Newquay Sports Centre, Newquay Waterworld, Par Pavilion and Running Track, Saltash, St Austell Polkyth, St Ives, Truro and Wadebridge.