Leisure
London 2012’s winning legacy
London’s communities will reap the benefits of London 2012’s sporting legacy for decades to come, says Shaun Dawson.
Seven cities shortlisted to host Eurovision 2023
The BBC has announced that seven UK cities have been shortlisted to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.
Capturing moments of national togetherness
What would be a fitting legacy for the Lionesses’ triumph, asks Claire Kober? She puts forward three ideas.
Inflation's impact is far-reaching
Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen says that for district councils 'to remain prudent, painful decisions will have to be made, and it is discretionary services which are likely to be hit hardest'.
Boldly going where Birmingham has never gone before
Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, explains the integral role of the local authority in delivering the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Game-ready in Brum
As the Commonwealth Games open next week, Birmingham City Council’s chief executive Deborah Cadman tells Heather Jameson they’ve been delivered in record time, with evidence of investment in every ward.
Swimming against the tide
Sandwell BC has worked with its partners to overcome the odds and deliver a world-class sports facility on time and in budget for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Tony McGovern and Chris Jones explain
LGA in energy costs leisure warning
Rising energy costs are ‘driving decisions’ to close council leisure facilities or reduce opening hours, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Councils paid out half COVID hospitality fund
Less than half of the grant funding available to prop up the hospitality industry following disruption due to COVID has been paid out by councils, according to Government figures.
Onwards and upwards for Coalville
Regenerating Coalville became a corporate priority of North West Leicestershire DC in 2015. Despite some knocks along the way, it feels like the work of the council and others is starting to make difference, says James Arnold.
Sheffield to fund £7m leisure bailout
Sheffield City Council is to provide a £7m bailout to a charity running its leisure venues.
Gove's suggestion on non-statutory services won't work
Michael Gove recently said councils could drop some non-statutory services – but these are the essential operating platform for their statutory cousins, says Mo Baines.
Knowsley leisure firm in £2m bailout
The authority originally formed Volair to reduce its lesiure service’s dependency on council funding.
Supporting staff through crises
David Bibby explains how leisure and cultural centre provider Everyone Active has been working with local authority partners to rise to the challenges of the pandemic and support the workforce.
We will spell out the benefits delivered by districts' wellbeing services
We need a long term strategy that revitalises leisure and wellbeing services to level up the health of the nation and place them firmly within Integrated Care Systems, says Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.
This provisional settlement makes the job of districts harder
The Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement falls short of what district councils need and leaves funding gaps that undermine the ability to deliver essential services, says Cllr Sharon Taylor.
The problems with the finance settlement
Ian Miller examines the risks and uncertainties for districts in the provisional settlement, and lists the uncomfortable topics he says ‘cannot be avoided for much longer’.
Taking the lead locally on the climate emergency
A project launched last year provides a significant piece of Craven DC's zero carbon by 2030 jigsaw, says Paul Shevlin, and the most impactful thing the council could do was to take steps to cut the carbon footprint of its seven key premises.
Cash is welcome but not the only answer
The funding for local government revealed by the chancellor in last week’s Spending Review is welcome – but it does not come close to addressing the financial woes of districts, says Cllr Sharon Taylor.
DCN members stand ready to create greener communities
The dedicated local government day at COP on 11 November gives us the chance to showcase what councils can do, says new chair of the District Councils' Network Sam Chapman-Allen.