SWIMMING lessons and gym sessions are among the prices set to increase ‘above inflation’ across Slough’s leisure centres.

In order for the borough’s leisure contractor Everyone Active to pay off over £1m management fee for 2022/23, senior councillors agreed that some service charges will be raised from September.

Some of the prices will be raised ‘above inflation,’ which currently stands at 9.1 per cent, to bring in a £50,000 income. This includes monthly swimming lesson costs for children from £37.29 to £39.58 and adding an additional 50p to adult gym sessions.

The council and Everyone Active has been re-negotiating the management fee, which was originally £1.6m, for about a year as lockdowns and Covid restrictions impacted leisure centres’ income across the country.

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Speaking at cabinet meeting on Monday, July 18, Richard West, executive director for place and community, said the re-negotiated fee is short by £540,000 but is “the best-negotiated position”.

Councillors were warned raising prices could see a reduction in memberships and casual use of the town’s leisure centres.

Council leader James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green) said: “This is not unique to us by any means. It is tempting to see through the prism of the difficulties Slough has had but actually, the Covid pandemic has disrupted leisure all over the country.

“It’s by no means back to normal. Every other call I am in with council leaders to government and amongst each other is all about how we try to get services back to where they were because of the seriousness of the impacts of Covid.

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“In fact, lots of people never came back to using leisure. It’s why there are wider health consequences and there’s a lot of angst in the sector generally on how quickly we can return to something that felt like normality.”

The council is continuing to suspend its community programme, which provides physical-based activities, in order to save £50,000 and is eyeing to re-open the Salt Hill Activity centre with reduced activities and opening hours in January 2023.

Salt Hill Activity Centre is used as a Covid vaccination hub but is due to cease by December. However, with news that a fourth jab has opened up to the over 50s, Mr West warned this could have a “negative impact” and might delay the re-opening.