Aberdeen’s struggling pools and gyms could be battered by a £700,000 funding cut as the council prepares a budget bloodbath.
The local authority could snatch hundreds of thousands of pounds from Sport Aberdeen at a time when the body has been hit by crippling energy costs.
The organisation has already had to close its Beach Leisure Centre swimming pool as it battles to make ends meet.
And management issued grave warnings earlier this year that there was a “real risk” the plug could be pulled on more.
News that the council could vote to reduce funding by £687,000 next week has left bosses examining the future of “all” services.
Sport Aberdeen budget cut could be one of many inflicted on city
On Wednesday, Aberdeen City Council will set its budget for the 2023/24 financial year, with officials warning that a £46.6 million gap needs to be filled.
A slew of controversial cuts has been proposed in a report going before the crunch meeting.
One measure being suggested is stripping back the funding offered to Sport Aberdeen, which runs 20 venues across the city – including six swimming pools.
Leaked email to staff details ‘several meetings’ about proposed cut
An email sent to all Sport Aberdeen staff has been shared with the P&J.
It reveals that talks about the potential budget blow date back to December.
As 2022 came to an end, managing director Alistair Robertson attended “several meetings” with top brass about the “difficult circumstances” facing the authority.
Mr Robertson told workers that he left council leaders “in no doubt about what could be a at risk” if the cash is pulled.
“I made the strongest case possible to keep our budget reduction as low as possible,” he told staff.
The next board meeting is planned for Wednesday, March 1, by which time Sport Aberdeen bosses will know more about its financial outlook.
The email also includes details of mental health support available for worried staff.
Funding blow would be a ‘daunting challenge’
Facing the prospect of another cash blow, Mr Robertson told us he was still “digesting the contents” of the council dossier.
He said: “This level of budget reduction, coupled with the wider economic pressures we are all facing, presents a very daunting challenge.”
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Mr Robertson said it was essential that he now “assesses the viability” of every venue and service Sport Aberdeen operates “to ensure the future of the charity in the longer term”.
However, he added: “Obviously, this is the officers report and recommendations, therefore this could change on the day.”
Read more about the budget here:
The financial background to the horror cuts proposed
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