ADMISSION charges at council-run leisure centres in Hull could be increased sharply in the new year. The hike is being seen as one way of reducing current subsidy costs and keeping some venues open.
Subsidy costs have been a feature of the recent consultation over the future of swimming facilities at Ennerdale Leisure Centre and the Springhead Golf Course as part of a proposed £1m savings drive in the council's leisure section.
According to council figures, each individual round of golf at Springhead costs the taxpayer £3.64 in subsidy on top of the actual pay and play green fee charged per player.
The subsidy cost per visitor at Ennerdale is 77p.
The highest subsidy is at the Isaac Newton Sports Centre, in east Hull, where every visit in 2011-12 was subsidised to the tune of £49.18.
Councillor Terry Geraghty, portfolio holder for leisure, said: "Years ago we tried to minimise the charges because we had the money to do it, but those days are gone. Now, we are in a business situation and we have got to move forward on those lines.
"One way to do that is to increase the charges.
"We are looking at our charges because they have never really been looked at properly in the past.
"If it is agreed by the cabinet, there will be a new set of charges from January next year.
"Putting them up is one way of keeping these facilities open.
"Another way is to review the subsidy costs.
Green charges for adults and seniors at the council's two golf courses at Springhead and Sutton are the lowest compared with 15 privately-run neighbouring courses in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
Cllr Geraghty said he believed the Springhead subsidy was "unacceptable", but defended the subsidy costs at Isaac Newton.
"You can't look at the sport hall at Isaac Newton in isolation because, as well as being a big indoor gym, there is also a library there, social services and an outdoor gym," he said.
"We are hoping to put more football pitches there, so it becomes one of the best leisure centres in the area.
"It's still in its infancy and the subsidy is now about £30 and it's still going down."
He also again questioned the council's subsidy funding for Kingston Swimming Club, which trains and hosts competition events at Ennerdale.
"Spending between £150,000 and £170,000 on just one club is a lot of money," he said.
Speaking at a council scrutiny meeting, Councillor Claire Thomas said: "I do not think the council should be subsidising rounds of golf.
"Ideally, we should be getting to a position where Springhead is run without any subsidy."
Environmental charity Groundworks has recently submitted a proposal to keep Springhead open in conjunction with golf club members.
However, an option remains to close the facility next April.
A £219,000 grant from the Hull NHS Clinical Commissioning Group has allowed the council to keep Ennerdale's two pools open until at least April 2015.
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