By Michael Kenwood

Copyright belfastlive

Ards and North Down leisure services will continue with a “hybrid” model, with some services in the council area remaining outsourced to contractors, and some continuing to be provided in-house by the council. Following a high-profile debate on Thursday evening at Bangor Castle, elected members of Ards and North Down Borough Council took the decision that leisure services in Ards and North Down will be run via a hybrid model of operation when current contractual arrangements come to an end in March 2028. The decision came from a divided chamber, with 19 members from the UUP and DUP pushing through a UUP proposal to continue with a hybrid model, against 15 members from Alliance , the Green Party , the SDLP, and two independents, who all wanted the service to be taken completely inhouse. READ MORE: Public toilet opening hours to be looked at in beach areas on Ards Peninsula and North Down READ MORE: Controversial planning development to go ahead in Holywood despite objector’s petition At present leisure centres in the former North Down part of the borough are run by Northern Community Leisure Trust while in the former Ards part of the Borough they are run by an in-house council team. The NCLT contract comes to an end in March 2028 and so a decision had to be made about future operational models. The council said after the meeting: “In coming to the decision, elected members participated in three workshops (May, June and July 2025) and received a significant amount of information covering governance, finance, staffing, utilities, staff and customer satisfaction – much of which has been put into the public domain and can be accessed on the council’s website. “Throughout the process and during the council meeting elected members recognised that customer satisfaction is high for both the council operated and the NCLT operated facilities in the borough. They also recognised there are excellent staff working in all of the leisure facilities, who deliver a high-quality service to the leisure users. “In making the decision on a hybrid approach elected members recognised the success of both existing leisure operation models within the borough and confirmed that Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex and Queens Leisure Complex would be outsourced, that sports grounds/pitches across the northern part of the borough including Bangor Sportsplex will move back to council, and that all other leisure facilities and services will remain in council management.” The council added: “It was further agreed that the new outsourcing contract would include mechanisms to improve contract management, greater mutual access to services for customers e.g. swimming pools, and an audit and plan for capital improvements and maintenance. “A significant amount of work is now required to progress a new procurement exercise. The council has successfully run this process previously and understands the complexities and resources required to deliver it effectively.” A protest against privatisation was held outside Bangor Castle during the council meeting on Thursday, with workers, unions and other members of the public. In the run-up to the decision locals voiced concerns that prices could soar for using facilities if more private companies took over management of the sites. Meanwhile others, including councillors, said that bringing the service completely in-house would mean higher council rates in the borough. UUP Alderman Philip Smith , who made the successful proposal, said during the meeting: “Why this option? Because there is a contentment with the current operations, and it makes more sense financially for service users, and cause minimum disruption to staff. “In all honesty, my initial thoughts was to go for a full outsourced service, as I believe there would be considerable savings, but when I went through the figures in detail it was clear that Ards Leisure was performing well, and I believe it deserves a vote of confidence from this council.” He added: “To insource NCLT under council management costs upwards of one million pounds per year, a 1.5 percent increase on the rates. Basically the cost benefit doesn’t stack up. We must also be mindful that less than nine percent of the adult population of this borough are leisure centre members, and there has to be a limit on the level of subsidy.” Green Party Councillor Barry McKee said at the meeting: “I believe the hybrid model might look like a compromise, but in reality it means duplication, inconsistency, and wasted resources. But most importantly, I really believe that it means our residents do not get the best deal. “Looking at Newtownards , as someone who represents Bangor, I do so longingly. I see that the council-run model run in Newtownards is accountable, transparent and effective. Every pound that is generated can go straight back into improving facilities and supporting the staff we most rely on. “Comparing that with outsourced services in Bangor and Holywood , where income generated in North Down is helping to pay salaries for Serco employees in England, and lines the pockets of their shareholders, rather than being invested fully in this borough. And not only that, the accountability is weaker, and residents tell us they are being let down.” Alliance Alderman Martin McRandal said: “Those of you who were here in the last council term will remember that in December 2022, we made a decision to about-turn on bringing leisure services all in-house. Instead we took the decision to extend the outsourcing contract in North Down. That decision was largely based on a forecast of financial benefit, which never materialised.” He added: “Officers advised us that we need to consider what the priority is – is it cost or is it service? We are prioritising service. “I have no issue with outsourcing council services, it serves us well in certain circumstances, but based on the 12 years experience of outsourcing leisure provision in North Down, I think that this borough will be best served by bringing leisure services inhouse.” For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter