Posted: Sat 26th Oct 2024

Aura run leisure centres and libraries to close for four-day transition as council takes over

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

Flintshire’s leisure and library services will temporarily close for four days next month as the council assumes control, ending its long-standing contract with employee-owned Aura Wales.

The closure, scheduled for November 1-4, will allow time for essential safety and compliance checks as the council’s new Local Authority Trading Company (LATC), Flintshire Libraries and Leisure (FLL), takes over on November 5.

This transition follows a council vote on Thursday confirming plans to move forward with the LATC after negotiations to renew Aura’s contract fell through.

Flintshire People’s Voice (FPV) group called for an eleventh-hour motion to reopen talks with Aura, but the council rejected the proposal by a 37-16 margin, preferring to proceed with the LATC model.

FPV councillors argued that details on the LATC’s business plans were sparse and warned of potential disruption.

FPV leader Sam Swash highlighted Aura’s contributions, saying, “Aura is hugely valued by the people of Flintshire,” and warned that without clear transition plans, “there will be service disruption” under the LATC.

Aura’s chief executive Mike Welch, raised concerns about the council’s timeline, describing it as “a rushed process” and noting that some customers were already cancelling memberships due to uncertainty about the service’s future.

Council leader Dave Hughes reassured residents that the new entity would ensure a seamless handover, reiterating that no vital services would be closed.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to customers,” he stated, expressing the council’s commitment to maintaining high standards for library and leisure services.

Aura is tasked with notifying members about the closure period, as well as refunding bookings scheduled between November 1 and 4. Direct Debit payments will be transferred to FLL without requiring action from customers.

The council maintains that employee terms and job roles will remain unchanged in the transition.

Flintshire’s chief executive Neal Cockerton confirmed that “extensive efforts are underway” to achieve a smooth handover.

In a statement issued Friday, the council addressed customers regarding upcoming payment changes: “Aura will also soon be in contact with anyone who pays subscriptions by Direct Debit to explain the transfer process, but residents can be assured that in the future, Flintshire County Council and FLL will collect the Direct Debit payments instead of Aura, and there will be no need for residents to complete a new direct debit instruction.”

Councillor Dave Hughes further noted: “We are looking forward to welcoming everyone into Flintshire Libraries and Leisure and are committed to continuing to provide high-quality services for the people of Flintshire. We are doing everything we can to ensure a seamless transfer with minimal disruption to customers; however, there will be a need for some interim arrangements while we establish a new model of delivery. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused, but the council needs to take the time to ensure that all buildings and equipment are safe and compliant for customers.”

Reflecting on Aura’s legacy, Hughes added: “I would like to thank Aura for their work over the last seven years, and it is regrettable that a new agreement that satisfies grant funding requirements could not be reached. The employees have shown their passion and dedication, and I hope we can now move forward together and continue to provide the very best services for the people of Flintshire.”

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