Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust Up and Running
PR 150
16 March 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Speculation over the future of the Martina Centre on Great Yarmouth’s sea front has been answered by an initiative steered by the Borough Council.
Changes to the management of the Marina Centre took a major step forward last Friday following the first meeting of the Trustees forming the Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust.
The Trust is due to take over the management of the Marina Centre from Leisure Connection as from April 2.
The trustees have been drawn from a number of representative bodies within the Borough, including the Borough and County Councils, Primary Care Trust, Sports Council and the Tourist Authority. The trust currently comprises nine members, with three further members to be co-opted by the trustees at a future date.
Mark Barrow, the Borough Councils’ Director for Environment and Economy, was elected as Chairman of the Trust and will also act as its Chief Executive, with Albert Jones, who represents the Tourist Authority elected as Vice Chairman. Mr Barrow was however keen to stress the independence of the Trust from the Borough Council.
“Whilst the Borough Council continues to own the Marina Centre building, it has leased it to the Trust. The Trust has been established as a Company limited by guarantee. It is a non-profit distributing body and its objects are to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the community and visitors to the Borough.”
He further explained that whilst the Borough Council was represented on the Board of Trustees it did not have a controlling interest. The Company had also applied for charitable status, and would need to clearly show its independence from the Council.
Mr Barrow praised all those involved in the hard work that had gone on behind the scenes to put the Trust together in a very short timescale. ‘We are now working closely with Leisure Connection on a smooth transition next month,” he added. “After that we will be able to get down to the real work of developing and implementing plans that will deliver the objectives of the Trust."
For further information contact Mark Barrow, Corporate Director for Environment and Economy on 01493 846302.Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513