Maintenance of Helensburgh’s new leisure centre is projected to cost Argyll and Bute Council almost £1m over the next nine years.
A report has revealed that the authority now has to budget £105,000 per year for upkeep of the £23m waterfront facility, which has been open for nearly a year and is operated by LiveArgyll rather than the council.
The figure is forecast as part of best case, mid-range and worst case scenarios for the council’s budget up until the 2028/29 financial year.
The report went before the authority’s policy and resources committee yesterday.
A table listing forecast figures said of the leisure centre: “There is an ongoing need for the council to manage the maintenance and repair of its buildings.
“Now that the new Helensburgh waterfront leisure complex is operational there are additional pressures on this budget for maintenance and inspection of fabric, mechanical systems and electrical systems for this new asset.
“The cost of maintenance and inspection over the next nine years is estimated at £939,000, averaging £105,000 per annum.”
Executive director Kirsty Flanagan also said in the report that the best case scenario would currently see a budget gap of £4.8m in the 2024/25 financial year.
The worst case scenario would see a gap of £14.5m, but the figures do not take into ccount potential large increases in council tax bills.
She added: “Council officers are continuing to explore savings options during 2023/24 and these will be presented to members at a future date to help balance the budget in future years.
“This is a very challenging budget outlook position and the level of Scottish Government grant and the pay award are the two assumptions that could alter the figures significantly.
“Both will be kept under close review and the budget outlook updated as and when further information becomes available.”
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