Future of leisure in Swale to be decided

Councillors are preparing to decide the future of Swale's leisure services next week, with a new decade-long contract that could deliver local people discounts, free access for carers, and a single flexible membership for pools and gyms across the borough.

Swale Borough Council’s Housing, Health, and Communities Committee will meet on Thursday, 1 October, to appoint an experienced operator to run the services for the next 10 to 15 years.

The chosen provider will manage the Sheppey Leisure Complex, Swallows Leisure Centre, and, for the first time, Faversham Pools.

Bringing Faversham Pools into the borough-wide contract guarantees consistent, high-quality swimming and fitness services for everyone in the borough.

This will make sure the pools receive the shared support and investment they need to thrive, while protecting their unique identity and heritage.

After carefully comparing bids to ensure the chosen partner shares the council's vision for a healthier Swale, councillors will review a recommendation that offers practical, community-focused benefits.

These include:

• Fairer, affordable pricing through a brand-new concession scheme offering discounts for those that meet certain low-income criteria, free access for carers, and memberships covering all three sites
• A strong local commitment to hiring local staff, putting full-time outreach teams into communities to promote healthy living, and partnering directly with local groups not currently using the centres
• Clear protection for local heritage, celebrating what makes each centre unique and specifically protecting the history of Faversham Pools
• Smart, green upgrades that use energy-saving technology to reduce running costs and help hit environmental targets

If the Housing, Health, and Communities Committee approves the recommendations, the Policy and Resources Committee will decide on the model that the operator will use to work with the council, at a meeting on 6 October 2026.

The recommended model would see the council continue to own the leisure centres at Sittingbourne and Sheppey and the indoor pools at Faversham, while the new operator will run them day-to-day on the council's behalf.

The outdoor pools at Faversham will continue to be owned by a charitable trust with a long lease back to the Council and operated by the new operator.

This approach could reduce the council's running costs, free up money to fund community health workers, and can unlock new funding to modernise the buildings without passing the burden onto taxpayers.

The council will then finalise the contract and officially announce the new provider towards the end of October, following the completion of the statutory procurement process.

The operator would then take the reins across all three sites from 1 April 2027.

Cllr Hannah Perkin, chair of the Housing, Health and Communities Committee, said:

“This new contract is an exciting opportunity to get the absolute best out of our three amazing leisure centres. We want to make sure the team running them shares our ambitions to make Swale a healthier, happier place.

“The bids have been carefully weighed to make sure we’re getting the best possible value for local people. Now, the committee will take the final step in choosing the right partner for the next decade.

“Bringing Faversham Pools into the fold is a huge step forward. It allows us to launch a new concession scheme to help people who are struggling with costs, install energy-saving technology that saves money in the long run, and put dedicated staff out into our communities to boost public health.”

Mike Ellsmore, Co-Chair of Faversham Pools, added:

"Joining the wider Swale contract helps secure a bright, sustainable future for Faversham Pools, which are a much-loved part of the town.

“We’ve worked closely with the council to make sure this new partnership protects our unique heritage, while unlocking the support and upgrades we need.

“This helps secure the future of the pools for the local community for many years to come.”

You can read the Leisure Contract Award report on Swale Borough Council’s website.

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