£60,000 lift for leisure centre

Nov 7 2008 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Friday

CALLANDER’S McLaren Leisure Centre has been awarded a £60,000 boost from Stirling Council for urgent repairs and maintenance.

The cash should also allow the centre’s budget to break even in this financial year.

Opened in 1998, it is operated and managed by registered charity McLaren Community Leisure Centre (Trading) Ltd.

The company receives payment from the council’s children’s services for the use of the centre by neighbouring McLaren High School.

However, a three-year service level agreement negotiated in 2003 has now expired.

Delays in completing a new agreement sparked criticism from the centre’s board earlier this year, saying it had put considerable pressure on their budgets.

However, the council has now agreed to the immediate financial support and pledged to finalise a longer term solution for the centre, proposals for which are expected to be brought within weeks to the next council meeting.

Council leader Councillor Graham Houston said: “This facility is more than 10 years old and it is showing signs of wear and tear, but the board members have brought it up quite considerably. There is work, however, that still needs to be done.

“It’s important we also look at how to ensure the funding module is right for the years ahead rather than just fixing a particular problem.”

A spokesperson for the McLaren board said it “warmly welcomed” the council’s decision, adding: “It will ensure the centre has the funds to carry out essential maintenance until March 2009.

“This is important and not insignificant as the centre is one and a half times the size of Rainbow Slides.

“We are also pleased the council has now started negotiations on new financial arrangements for use of the centre by McLaren High School and several feeder primaries.

“This negotiation is starting over two and a half years beyond the completion of the last agreement.

“This delay has caused a great deal of difficulty for the centre as indicated in the Stirling Observer earlier this year and the last few months have been very difficult indeed.

“Despite these difficulties the centre has increased its income by more than 25 per cent in the last two years, in the other areas over which it has control. This has been achieved by increasing the variety and use of its facilities, coupled with increasing training of staff and improving service quality. The staff response to this challenge has been encouraging and has been at the core of all improvements.

“We are pleased with the LEADER+ backing for redevelopment of the former indoor bowling hall into the Callander Indoor Arena, a flexible space which in its first three months has exceeded the entire previous year’s income for this area.

“There are other plans to which the board is now able to devote more time in order to further the centre’s aim of looking after the community’s needs.”