Groups invited to get in touch to tender

Groups interested in taking over the running of Audley Sports & Community Centre are being encouraged to get in touch with the Council.

Invitations to Tender opened on Monday (September 5) and have been sent to groups who had already registered an interest.

However, groups who have not yet approached the Council can still complete their tender proposal. The deadline for submission is on Monday, October 3 at midday.

Blackburn with Darwen Council currently operates the Audley Sports & Community Centre and is looking for a qualified and experienced group who can manage and develop the facility for the benefit of customers and the local community.

The scheme called a Community Asset Transfer, is the result of savings the Council has to make following the reduction in government budgets that mean the Council has to look at new ways of working.

The Council will still retain ownership of the building but a local group or organisation will be appointed to run it.

Only groups that can demonstrate they have the experience and ability to manage the centre in the interests of customers and wider community will be considered.

Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Young People, said:

With the reduction to our budgets we have to look at alternative ways of providing services.

Community Asset Transfers can open up opportunities for local people to have a greater say in the running or managing of community buildings and develop them in the way they would like to see them run.

I would urge anyone who thinks that they are part of a group with the necessary skills and the experience to get in touch.

For more information contact rizwana.zaahid@blackburn.gov.uk. The deadline for submissions is Monday, October 3 at midday.