Investment planned for council swimming pools

More than £600,000 could be spent on essential maintenance at four Bradford Council‑run swimming pools as part of a wider £1.9m package to improve local services.

The money would be used on Eccleshill Pool, Ilkley Pool and Lido, Shipley Pool and Bowling Pool, according to the authority.

Funding would also be be made available for other projects including providing an outdoor gym at Haworth Road play area, the installation of a wheelchair lift at Bolling Hall Museum and exercise bikes at several sports and leisure centres.

The council's executive is being asked to approved the proposals at a meeting on Tuesday.

A total of £636,000 has been earmarked for swimming pool infrastructure while £60,000 has been set aside for new exercise bikes at Thornton Recreation Centre, Eccleshill Pool and Sedbergh Sports and Leisure Centre.

The council said £136,000 was planned to fund projects "to support the transformation of family hubs to meet the needs of families across the district and reach the most vulnerable communities".

At the meeting on Tuesday, councillors will also hear an update on the progress being made in managing its finances.

The authority said its finances were stabilising quicker than expected with a new report showing a £13.9m underspend at the end of December - an improvement on the £10.2m underspend it reported at the end of September.

The authority said it planned to use any year‑end surplus to rebuild its depleted reserves and further reduce reliance on emergency government borrowing.

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