Summer scheme rises are criticised

Summer scheme rises are criticised

17 June 2015

A DECISION by Newry, Mourne and Down Council to increase the cost of this year’s weekly summer schemes across the district to £50 has been branded “disgraceful” by a local politician.

The 25 per cent hike comes after the local authority’s controversial proposal to increase the cost of private swimming lessons at the Down Leisure Centre pool sparked a wave of protest across the district.

The council proposal to create a £4.85 tax for children entering the leisure centre for private tuition as well as a rule to prevent swimming teachers from booking slots any more than a week in advance is due to be discussed at a special meeting within the next few weeks.

Council officials have increased the cost of a number of services since the old Down Council merged with its neighbour in Newry and Mourne as part of a so-called levelling up process. 

As the furore over the private swimming tuition hike continues, Downpatrick councillor Colin McGrath has criticised the local authority for increasing the cost of the summer schemes.

In addition to the weekly cost increasing from £39.50 to £50, the cost of individual morning and afternoon sessions, day trips and family costs have also risen.

“The increase in the cost of summer schemes delivered at our leisure centres is disgraceful. To expect parents to pay an additional 25 per cent in one go is too much,” declared Councillor McGrath.

“This is a further case of the ‘levelling up’ process that has left the people of Down out of pocket. I have raised this particular issue during several debates but keep getting knocked back by council officers who say the schemes are already heavily subsidised.”

Councillor McGrath said while he is not disputing the fact summer schemes are subsidised, he would rather have seen the cost introduced on a phased basis ‘rather than an overnight increase.’

He also claimed members of the statutory transition sub-committee — set up to oversee the merger of the two legacy councils — that took the decision to increase the summer scheme fees “were not given all the facts.”

Councillor McGrath added: “I fear that the issue of ‘levelling up’ was presented as not having much of an impact. Had transition committee members been made aware that we would have seen large increases in swimming tutor fees and summer schemes, the decision would have been very different.

“I have implored council chief executive, Liam Hannaway, that fees be ‘graduated’ and brought in over a number of years to help families prepare for the large increase.”

A spokeswoman for Newry, Mourne and Down Council confirmed the previous weekly charge of £39.50 for summer schemes was brought in line with the existing fee imposed by the old Newry and Mourne Council.

She continued: “The former Newry and Mourne Council in turn increased its previous activity times from four hours a day to six hours in line with the schemes operated by the old Down Council. Now, all users of summer schemes throughout the new council area can benefit from 30 hours’ of activities for £50 per week at a cost of £1.66 per hour.”

The spokeswoman said as part of the change to establish the new super council, the charges for a limited number of similar services were updated to secure district-wide standardisation.

She added: “This issue was identified and prioritised by members of both councils as an area that needed to be addressed before the merger on April 1. 

“Where this occurred, there was a combination of both increases and decreases in the charges for the services identified. The charging of council services will continually be reviewed in line with the design of more efficient models of service delivery and to secure greater value for money.”