Taking things at leisure

The other day, we were talking about how things slip through the net, in the context of the call to close down Boston BID being fudged by Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce with the hope that the problem will go away.
Another problem that appears to have slipped into the sidelines - although it will have to be resolved sooner rather than later - is the transfer of the borough’s sporting assets to the Company Leisure Connection.
Way back in July a report to Boston’s Cabinet of Curiosities stated: “Leisure Connection, in discussion, with the Government Actuaries Department have ascertained that certificate of pension board compliance is not yet available and the contract award is conditional on this matter.”
To date, we have heard nothing to the contrary,  and wonder if this means that the award of the contract - which is vital to the staff who will be sold out along with the sporting facilities -  has yet to be signed on the dotted line.
If so, we wonder what what the problems are, and also what the implications are for the borough’s budget.
Few savings figures were wafted around at the time - the only one we can recall being mentioned is a paltry £153,000 a year for the Geoff Moulder Leisure Pool ... but taxpayers have to fork out a small fortune to refurbish it before Leisure Connection will take it on.
The Princess Royal Sports Arena has already had all its debts paid to the tune of the thick end of £10 million.
Readers may recall that Leisure Connection, calls itself "the market leader of outsourced quality leisure, cultural and fitness services to local authorities.”
But as we have previously reported, many local authorities who have entrusted their sporting facilities to the company have come to bitterly regret the day.
However, what’s done is done.
But if the contract has still to be awarded - and if it had been, we would have expected an announcement from the council - then someone ought to start chasing things up as the delay must be costing taxpayer many thousands of pounds a month.

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