BRENTWOOD LEISURE CENTRE CLOSURE
28TH OCTOBER 2020
It is with regret that we have to announce the immediate closure of the Brentwood Centre.
The Trustees and senior managers have been in good faith discussions with Brentwood Borough Council since July in trying to find a way to keep the services open and protect the jobs of all associated with the business.
As we believed we were still working in good faith we continued these discussions until Wednesday 21st October. In spite of a deal agreed in principle this has been subsequently rejected by BBC. Following further meetings on October 26th and 27th with no resolution the Trustees have been left with no option other than to wind up the business with immediate effect.
The recent sequence of events is as follows:
A meeting held on the 7th October can be viewed via this link
https://brentwood.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g2183/Printed%20minutes%2007th-Oct-2020%2019.00%20Ordinary%20Council.pdf?T=1
The Brentwood Leisure Trust was discussed behind closed doors by Councillors. The minutes of what was discussed are still to be released but we were made aware that it was a unanimous decision by Brentwood Councillors not to offer any further support for the Leisure Trust.
Some of the details of what was being discussed were leaked by Deputy Leader Councillor Keith Parker to the media on the 1st October.
https://www.yellowad.co.uk/new-financial-arrangement-should-ensure-brentwood-centre-is-sustainable
As late as 4.55pm on the 7th October the Trust were being told by BBC senior officers no decisions had been made.
Despite repeated requests for the outcome of this meeting we were not officially told until the 14th October. In the communication that arrived we were assured that despite the decision not to support the Trust going forward BBC were keen to work with the Trust in ensuring a smooth transition and protect services and jobs.
In the meantime we would ask for your help and support by all or any of the following means:
Lobby your MP
[email protected]
Lobby your local councillor
https://brentwood.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx
Lobby the Leader of the Council
[email protected]
Contact the local media
Comment on our social media platforms
https://m.facebook.com/BrentwoodCentre/
https://twitter.com/brentwoodcentre
The Brentwood Centre is bigger than all of the above people and organisations and with your support we are confident of ensuring a swift resolution and funding to allow it to re-open.