Sovereign Centre negotiations - FAQs
Who are GLL/Better, and what is their experience of running centres like this?
GLL was established in 1993 and is now the UK's largest operator of public leisure, health and community services.
Its proven track record, stretching back over 30 years and the expertise it has amassed during that time, combined with its financial resilience and purchasing power means that GLL is uniquely placed to take on the running of the Sovereign Centre.
GLL is structured as a staff-owned co-operative and is a not-for-profit organisation. This means that any financial surpluses are re-invested back into the services and facilities it operates. Since its establishment in 1993, GLL has been able to reinvest over £100 million back into sport, leisure and cultural services.
GLL's consumer-facing brand is "Better" and this is what residents will see on customer information, memberships and promotional material. Online resources will be found via the www.better.org.uk website and the Better UK app.
Why did the Council have to make changes at the Sovereign Centre?
This is not just an Eastbourne problem, there have been 276 local authority swimming pools that have closed since 2015, 43 of which were in the South East.
This is due to significant cuts in funding from central government as well as rising costs and increased demands on vital services.
Many Councils across the country are facing financial difficulty. For instance, East Sussex County Council reported that they are facing a £55 million funding gap and are making cuts to services, whilst Brighton & Hove City Council must make £30 million of savings to balance their budgets
Council invites residents to choose how they'd save £30 million
Swimming Pools: Closures: 1 Feb 2024: Hansard Written Answers - TheyWorkForYou
Agreeing Heads of Terms for GLL to take on a lease of the Sovereign Centre means that the operating risks no longer sit solely with the Council. This means that the pools can remain open as the financial pressures are no longer borne by the Council. Eastbourne Borough Council will retain the freehold to the building and will work with GLL to safeguard swimming in the town.
Does the Sovereign Centre need investment / what is the long-term investment plan?
The centre is almost 50 years old and needs major modernisation. The cost could be in the vicinity of £12-15m or more for a refurbishment and a new build entirely would be substantially more than this.
The Centre does not generate enough money to cover these capital costs, therefore we need a long-term strategy that is financially affordable.
We are committed to developing plans with leisure operators, Government, partners and residents to ensure the long term provision of leisure and swimming in Eastbourne. This will include full consultations on the future provision of swimming at the Sovereign Centre.
Why did these changes need to happen this year?
We had to make changes to the service provision to avoid the potential of a full closure. We consulted on proposals in September, with a decision being confirmed in November.
At the same time, the Council has been facing unprecedented rising costs with providing temporary accommodation. We have been working for many years to avoid reductions in services.
With the cost of providing services increasing, we have been forced to find other ways of delivering and protecting services that national Government has cut funding for, including public toilets, the theatres, tourism, culture and leisure provision.
Failure to make these changes and savings would have made it impossible to set a balanced budget for the forthcoming year and would have resulted in the Council having to issue a Section 114 notice. This would have meant even further reductions in services, including the potential closure of the centre, the theatres, the Bandstand, as well as potential increases in Council Tax. Recently, an authority that had issued a Section 114 notice increased their Council Tax by 15%.
The Council's Cabinet do not agree with the Government that swimming should be a discretionary service. It also believes that the Government should fully fund the cost of temporary accommodation, which currently costs the council just under £5 million. However, despite extensive national lobbying on these issues, the Government have failed to act.
Why were Wave Active involved?
Wave Active is a champion of physical activity, community sports and leisure provision. Running a number of swimming pools in East Sussex, they have a detailed understanding of the associated operational requirements, revenue opportunities and costs.
In dealing with the financial pressures, the Council asked Wave to prepare financial models based on a series of defined scenarios, set against the severe financial constraints we are currently managing, to reduce the subsidy given by the Council in operating the pools and we are grateful for their support and guidance.
We are fortunate that GLL has come forward and is prepared and able to take a higher level of risk balanced by their national scale.
Why were GLL not approached to operate the site sooner?
The Council needed to make savings quickly to avoid any potential full closure and we have an existing arrangement with Wave Active to operate a number of sites on the Council's behalf.
Following press reports and our last decision, as well as representations from residents and partners, we made a commitment to look at other options before any final decisions were taken. This took place between December and January.
Exceptionally, GLL has come forward after seeing these reports and it is willing to run the pools at its own financial risk. The Council will continue to invest in the building and plant equipment within the Sovereign Centre.
When will GLL take over the running of the Sovereign Centre?
The Council is currently agreeing the Heads of Terms with GLL and hope to be in a position to formally transfer the centre by 1st April 2025. This is a complex process and will take time.
Should negotiations successfully conclude, GLL is looking to reopen the fun pool from 5th April 2025.
Will pricing remain accessible for all members of the community?
GLL recognises the importance of making swimming, and the Sovereign Centre accessible for all. Full details will be announced, but GLL has already confirmed the following will all be made available:
· 10% discount on memberships for local residents and free access to online fitness classes and advice
· Concessionary, student, senior and disability membership discounts
· Free membership scheme for Looked After Children
· Kids Swim for £1 session available daily during holidays and every weekend
Why is the Fun Pool opening seasonally only and what would it take to open it all year round?
GLL and other operators are clear that leisure pools in particular are expensive to run. They are usually larger bodies of water to heat and treat and are more difficult to equip with energy saving measures like overnight pool covers. They also require a higher number of lifeguards to safeguard swimmers in a pool that is not a traditional rectangle shape.
The recent increases in utility prices have made operating the Fun Pool even more challenging especially during winter months when the cold weather means even more energy is needed to maintain water temperature.
Figures across the sector show that operating the Fun Pool during peak season when footfall is at its highest, and keeping the pool closed outside of these times, will make the pool operation more sustainable for the future.
We continue to discuss with GLL the possibility of opening the Fun Pool all year round.
What is the rationale for a three-year lease?
The Sovereign Centre requires significant capital investment and we need to be able to develop a long-term strategy that is financially viable.
An immediate short-term position such as a three-year lease enables the centre to continue for this period of time whilst the long-term strategy is developed.
We are committed to consulting with partners and residents to work together on this long-term strategy.
Meanwhile, we will be lobbying national Government and funders to try to secure investment.
How much revenue from guests, memberships and swimming lessons has the Sovereign Centre lost since closing the Fun Pool?
These figures are commercially sensitive whilst we negotiate Heads of Terms with the new tenant however savings that have been generated since closing the Fun Pool outweigh the loss of income thus reducing the net subsidy by the Council.
What does this mean for swimming lessons that were due to be rescheduled to the Gala Pool?
We will no longer be rescheduling any of the Training Pool activity to the Gala Pool. Normal scheduling remains for the Training Pool and Gala Pool and updated pool timetables will be available in due course. For any immediate concerns regarding your swimming lessons, aquafit, hydrotherapy, or other structured swimming sessions, please contact the centre directly.
Will GLL ensure the centre is fully accessible for individuals with disabilities?
Yes. Visitors will have access to all public areas within the centre. With GLL aiming to re-open the Fun Pool as soon as possible, the Centre would have all facilities operational as they were.
What other benefits will GLL provide to Eastbourne residents?
GLL will provide access to the GLL Sports Foundation during the next enrolment window, which is December 2025.
The GLL Sport Foundation is the largest independent athlete support programme in the UK. It provides financial and in-kind support to talented athletes who live or train in the vicinity of the leisure facilities that it operates.
Since the Foundation launched in 2007 it has provided over 28,000 athlete awards across Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth, Deaflympic and Special Olympic sports at a total support value of over £15 million.
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