Freedom Leisure expresses interest in managing Uckfield Civic Centre

Freedom Leisure has expressed an interest in taking over the running of Uckfield Civic Centre and a working group is to be set up by the town council to consider the idea.

In September 2010 Freedom Leisure took over the running of events at the Civic Centre for a trial period but said that method of operation was not viable.

Now they have asked the council to consider the possibility of outsourcing the management of the Civic Centre to them.

Members of the town council’s general purposes committee, who met on Monday, agreed to establish a working group to explore the idea.

A report to the committee said one issue that could be raised was the possible transfer of staff and it was suggested various trade unions be notified in advance to let them know discussions may begin.

But Uckfield Mayor Cllr John Carvey was concerned the matter had been put before the committee.

He said: “I am very unhappy this has come to this stage at this time. I really do feel this has come to us at a very early stage. It shouldn’t have got this far. It will make people very unhappy, people with young families, youngsters and older people.

“To bring it up at this stage is totally wrong there are still lots of questions to be asked.”

Cllr Louise Eastwood, who chaired the meeting, said mention of the transfer of staff had concerned her.

“What guarantee will they have of keeping their jobs long term. I don’t think I would be happy for this to happen.”

But Cllr Ian Smith said the matter was at a very early stage, just exploring what could happen. “It may be something that might happen but it doesn’t have to.”

Eventually Cllr Carvey proposed a working group be established to give further consideration to the initiatives and that was agreed.

Other recommendations, including entering into preliminary discussions with Freedom Leisure, advising staff and trade unions of preliminary discussions and conducting a review of the operations and staffing of the Civic Centre, were dropped.