Money-saving review of Beau Sejour is way behind schedule

The review was announced last November to come up with a plan to stem the leisure centre’s repeated £1m. annual losses.

It should have been finished this summer. But it is not anywhere close to being completed.

Initially the Education, Sport & Culture Committee was looking for efficiencies and savings, but now the scope has widened to look to align with the strategic objectives of the public service, and how best to meet the needs of the community.

‘That increased scope means it will take longer than planned.

‘But it was decided that it was better to do the work all in one go and get a clear outcome of the review,’ said Sam Herridge, head of recreation services.

The final phases of the project, not yet started, will seek to build up a sustainable and effective business case for the future of the centre and work out how much that will cost.

Ultimately the issue will be debated by the States.

The centre’s operational losses are around £1m. a year, and it receives £700,000 from the Channel Islands Lottery to mitigate this. That lottery funding was supposed to stop in 2022 and will now carry on until 2025, but the review is expected to end that funding after that.

ESC president Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen told the States this week that the review was ‘a significant opportunity for a whole-system approach to community leisure’ and supporting physical and mental wellbeing.

The first phase of the project set seven themes for the purpose of Beau Sejour – inclusivity and accessibility; a community hub; preventative health and healthcare cost reduction; cultural and arts support; community engagement and partnership; financial sustainability; and education.