By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

A Southampton-based community organisation is on course to be the new long-term tenant of a council-owned leisure centre.
Photo: SCC

Testlands has been put forward as the recommended bid to take over the management of St Mary’s Community and Leisure Centre as civic leaders hope to broaden the site’s offering.

Southampton City Council invited charities and local groups to apply to become the tenant of the St Mary’s Road facility earlier this year.

The site closed down at the end of March when the contract with then operator Active Nation came to an end.

The local authority is pressing on with £2.5million of essential repairs to get the Grade II listed building in suitable condition before the new leaseholder moves in.

Cabinet members are due to sign off on entering into a lease agreement with Testlands at a meeting on Tuesday, June 17.

Council leader Cllr Lorna Fielker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Southampton’s Labour administration has always recognised the vital role St Mary’s plays in supporting the health and wellbeing of the local community.

“That’s why we reopened it when we took back the council.

“I’m pleased that we have a report going to cabinet to appoint a new local provider with a strong track record of working alongside our communities to take over its operations and help it thrive.”

In December 2021, the leisure centre closed after the then-Conservative council administration said it did not have a “viable future”.

Following a campaign by centre users, Labour reopened the facility within three months of taking back control of the local authority in May 2022.

Under former operator Active Nation, leisure provision on offer included a gym, badminton and squash courts, a hall for hire and activity rooms.

The proposed new lease arrangement is due to be discussed at the council’s overview and scrutiny management committee on Thursday, June 12.

A briefing paper to the committee said eight organisations submitted bids to become the new tenant, with five meeting the specified criteria.

These five bids were then reviewed by an assessment panel made up of representatives from the local authority’s leisure, finance, corporate estates and assets, and public health teams, as well as partner representatives.

The panel scored each of the five proposals individually, with a final assessment review taking place on May 13.

The outcome of this process was to recommend Testlands as the new long-term tenant.

The briefing paper said: “Testlands are a community organisation in Southampton, their mission is to improve the well-being of children, young people, and families.

“Testlands focus on empowering individuals through sports, education, and health and well-being activities, with a goal of addressing the “poverty of opportunity” faced by many in the area.

“Testlands offer a range of activities, including sports coaching, physical education in schools, and programs to help people on their career paths.”
If approved. Testlands would take on responsibility of the centre immediately after the completion of the refurbishment, which is currently expected to be in late November or early December.

The £2.5million capital investment includes the sports hall roof, fire precaution works, replacing the gas boiler and electrical rewiring.

An equality and safety impact assessment said: “The proposals for the long-term operator at St Mary’s Community and Leisure Centre fit with Southampton City Council’s ambition to support residents to be active in a way that suits them.

“Being physically active can help improve physical and mental health as well as reducing isolation and anti-social behaviour and promoting community cohesion.”

A confidential annex to the scrutiny committee includes a financial support request from Testlands.

The briefing paper said officers had not entered negotiations regarding financial support yet.

Any funding required for the lease would be met by existing leisure budgets, the paper added.