Plans to create a company with charitable status to run culture and leisure services in Glasgow have been endorsed by the local authority. Glasgow City Council's executive committee approved a plan to transfer services including museums, libraries and leisure centres by 1 April.
A total of 2,414 staff will move to the charity called Culture and Sport Glasgow, when the plans go ahead.
The council said the move would save up to �11.5m a year through tax breaks.
Services and staff will transfer by 1 April, with the company fully operative by 31 May.
Lottery funding
Culture and Sport Glasgow will run 13 Glasgow museums, including Kelvingrove and the Burrell Collection.
It will also run 34 libraries, including the Mitchell in the city centre and 23 leisure centres, swimming pools, sports pitches, more than 40 community halls and five municipal golf courses.
The council's culture and leisure department said the charity would be able to apply for funding - such as lottery money - which was not available to the local authority.
It would also offer opportunities for sponsorship and voluntary donations.
It is estimated that in its first year the charity would have a turnover of �90m.
Figures suggest it would generate savings of �7.5m in its first year, rising to �11.5m within five years.
A council report said negotiations with staff and trade unions on the proposals are under way.
Critics said the public had not been consulted and expressed concerns about accountability.
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