| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Consultation on the future of the borough's parks and libraries | |
| Posted by: | Paul Corcoran | |
| Date/Time: | 22/10/15 18:00:00 |
| 'I do not consider "opportunity costs in allocating tax revenue to funding them" for the good reason that the facilities already exist (the capital costs have been met) and the maintainance expenditure is very small. Only financiers analyse "cost centres" in this way and, by doing so, destroy real and valuable communal facilities.' Una, that seems to me a very optimistic view. Maintenance costs are extremely high particularly in Hounslow where the Fountains Leisure Centre was designed in an era of low energy prices. The costs are covered by farming the management out to organisations like Fusion who run them on a semi-commercial basis. The era of heavily subsidised municipal leisure facilities is long gone and the cost is similar at some of the lower end totally private providers. It is not just financiers who have to consider the cost of providing public services. The reality is that much of the cost is now being passed back to the user. The new facilities at Gunnersbury will need to turn a profit and they may well be able to do so if various Government bodies meet capital costs. This could mean that it will be expensive for sports organisations to be based there but there are probably enough clubs willing to pay if the facilities are up to scratch. |