Manchester City Council has launched consultations on its 2013-15 budget proposals for leisure centres and libraries and wants to hear people's views.
The Council as a whole has to address a funding shortfall of £80 million over the next two financial years and has set out in detail proposals for how it intends to achieve this.
The separate libraries and leisure consultations set out how the council proposes to deliver a quality, accessible service while making a contribution to the savings required.
A consultation on the council's overall budget proposals and priorities was launched on 16 January.
Full details of the proposals, links to further details including the full committee reports and to give your views about the plans, visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations
Leisure
The council will make a one-off capital investment of £10 million in modern replacement facilities for Chorlton/Withington (to open at Hough End in spring 2015) and Levenshulme ( to open spring 2015) alongside an already -funded new pool in Beswick ( to open autumn 2014).
Under the proposals four of the current Manchester pools - Broadway, Levenshulme, Miles Platting and Withington - would close in 2013. All are old and in poor condition and the move would avoid high ongoing maintenance and running costs. Chorlton Leisure Centre would remain open until a new facility is in place because it is essential to support the school swimming programme for south Manchester.
Deadline: Friday 8 March 2013
For further information and to you’re your say, visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200024/consultations/5927/options_for_manchesters_indoor_leisure_facilities
Libraries:
The Council has invested heavily in libraries in recent years with 65 per cent of the library network significantly improved. Its library strategy for 2013-15 will ensure that the council meets its obligations to provide a high quality accessible library service with a network consisting of a transformed Central Library and 13 neighbourhood libraries.
It is also proposed to replace six smaller libraries with outreach libraries or community book collections in alternative community premises, with some ICT provision as we have already done in places such as Clayton.
These would be managed by a community group or partner organisation. The libraries affected are Burnage, Fallowfield, Miles Platting, New Moston and Northenden. Levenshulme Library would also have revenue funding withdrawn but will share a building with the new leisure centre from 2015. It is intended to put similar interim arrangements in place for Levenshulme until the new facility opens.
Some 99.9 per cent of Manchester residents will still be within two miles of a library, and almost 85 per cent within one mile.
It is also proposed that lunchtime opening which had been withdrawn at all libraries in 2011 will be reinstated to the neighbourhood libraries to improve library access.
Deadline: Wednesday 17 April 2013
For further information and to you’re your say, visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200024/consultations/5926/manchester_libraries_consultation_2013