In the hopes of clinging onto the financial cliff, often by their bare fingertips, councils are having to shed some weight as austerity continues pulls down on them. And, more often than not, among the services first to be cut loose are leisure centres – much to the dismay of residents.

But Wolverhampton City Council is using its assets to its advantage. The authority's innovation and commercial services convinced judges to crown it winner in the Best Council Services Team category for The MJ Local Government Achievement Awards 2016.