David Maclehose, Chair for Live Active Leisure said: “We acknowledge and welcome the decision made by Perth & Kinross Council on Wednesday to withdraw the proposed 4% reduction to the Company's Contract Fee and provide £110K of additional funding support.  Whilst this decision will undoubtedly assist the Company with its financial challenges it unfortunately does not remove them entirely.

“We are also pleased that the replacement for Blairgowrie Recreation Centre will proceed as planned and whilst we are disappointed to see work on PH2O paused we fully understand the difficulties surrounding the Council’s capital programme and are encouraged to note that the budget provision of £90 million remains pending a further review.  

“Like many organisations we are managing a range of significant pressures including reduced customer income, rising inflation, high energy costs and the impact of long-term public finance constraints. The venues that we manage and operate are high demand users of energy and therefore the energy cost increases over the last 18 months alone, have had a big impact financially.  

“In response to these challenges, and to ensure that we can operate on a sustainable basis, the company is having to consider difficult choices from a wide range of savings proposals. The Company's Board of Directors will meet on the 16^th March to finalise the approach it will take. Further updates will be provided after this date. 

“In the meantime, we will continue to work with Perth & Kinross Council to ensure that there is a joined-up approach to tacking these challenges, ensuring that we safeguard wherever possible the vital health, wellbeing, sporting and physical activity offer that the Company provides across Perth and Kinross”.