Better could run Swindon's leisure centres for the next 15 years if Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet agrees in an upcoming meeting.

Leisure centres across the borough which are owned by the council, such as the Health Hydro, the Link Centre and Dorcan Recreation Centre, are operated by Better - the trading name of social enterprise GLL.

The company has a contract with the borough council that allows either party to call an end to the arrangement in 2027, with Better running the centres only for another year until the end of October 2028.

Now the ruling Labour cabinet at Euclid Street is being asked to drop that break clause, which was only extended and negotiated in 2023 so that Better will remain the operator of the council’s centres until last 2039 when the full lease would be completed.

The report says when negotiating the extension of the break clause to 2028 the council agreed to fund £2m in repairs, and a condition survey in centres, excusing the Victorian Health Hydro, identified a huge £16m of repair and maintenance work needed.

The reports said the request to get rid of the break clause came from GLL: 

“GLL advised that they are looking at funding longer-term investment into the centres, but the mutual break clause means they cannot generate a sufficient return against investment.

“They have suggested that to remove this issue both parties agree to the removal of the mutual break clause so that GLL can realise a return against investment until the leases end, which is October 31, 2039.”

GLL has also submitted a 15-year business plan and schedule of investments, which is not visible to the press or public, and said: “The plan shows an increased provision for planned maintenance to deal with the condition of the centres.

“GLL is also looking at further investment in the centres as indicated in the confidential appendix. GLL has advised that any surplus from operating the centres would be retained and reinvested into the Swindon centres.”

The cabinet is also being asked to approve spending the remainder of a £2m leisure fund approved last year – with £115,000 going to work on the Health Hydro and £1.3m for work on the Link Centre.

The cabinet meeting begins at 6pm on Wednesday, September 11 and members of the public are entitled to attend.

Better also used to manage and operate the Oasis Centre until they said it was not profitable enough in late 2020 and withdrew, although that arrangement was with Seven Capital the de facto owns of the Oasis.