Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore has been accused of 鈥減assing the buck鈥 over .
Opposition Lib Dem leader Paul Tilsley believes that the city鈥檚 ten districts have been handed a poisoned chalice 鈥 to decide which of their leisure centres or pools should be closed, contracted out or cut back.
Labour council leader Sir Albert has announced a major review of sports centres in the city in a bid to head off a projected 拢6.9 million budget shortfall.
His announcement included proposals to draw in more health service funding by rebranding sports halls as 鈥淲ellbeing Centres鈥 and putting them on the frontline of the battle against obesity.
But he also refused to rule out closures, sales and contracting out to private sector or community groups to run.
The decisions on what happens to each centre will be taken by the ten district committees.
Coun Tilsley (Sheldon), the former council deputy leader, said: 鈥淪ir Albert seems to be telling the districts that 鈥榳e have devolution, here are the cuts, you make them鈥. It is classic buck-passing. The centre should be making those cuts.鈥
But the former council deputy leader recognised that fresh thinking was needed and pointed out his administration pioneered contracting out leisure facilities with the loss-making golf courses and Harborne Pool.
鈥淲e have got to keep these facilities open, it may well be with the private sector involved, but they must stay open,鈥 he warned.
Conservative chairman of district committee Bruce Lines said that while they balanced the books on leisure centres other districts had over-spent.
Last year there was a 拢3 million overspend and this is expected to more than double.
He said: 鈥淭hree million is a small amount compared to the entire council budget, it could be managed. On the other side the districts should have better managed their budgets.鈥
He added: 鈥淗arborne Pool shows the way forward, not only do DC leisure run it for the council, but they pay the council.鈥
