[Darran]

As of yet there's been no explanation as to why it will take a year. The council may think we'll have forgotten by then. I just used the gym and can in fact find cheaper alternatives but that's really not the point. The city needs a facility accessible to most. They bang on about mental health, obesity and NHS waiting lists. Shame on our local council.
It's so bad that even Shandy's getting serious. I tell you we're all doomed.

I read an article on it and they are saying that it is because it has to be put out to tender and it is a long process to do that.

[drbob]

I read an article on it and they are saying that it is because it has to be put out to tender and it is a long process to do that.

I read the same article and it seems that each stage takes about three months, adding up to about a year in total. The council had been counting on Aspire to run the centre for another year whilst the process was gone through and they would also have had the opportunity to tender for the continuing the contract. Great council management!

[Mr.Magoo]

I read the same article and it seems that each stage takes about three months, adding up to about a year in total. The council had been counting on Aspire to run the centre for another year whilst the process was gone through and they would also have had the opportunity to tender for the continuing the contract. Great council management!

Exactly Dr Bob. If it takes 12 months to implement a new management company and Aspire weren't in a position to sign up and commit 12 months ago to this renewal it should have been put out to tender then. It's terrible management of an essential resource . I've emailed the council leader and would suggest others could do the same.

[Darran]

Exactly Dr Bob. If it takes 12 months to implement a new management company if Aspire weren't in a position to sign up and commit 12 months ago to this renewal it should have been put out to tender then. It's terrible management of an essential resource . I've emailed the council leader and would suggest others could do the same.

From my reading of it though Aspire only decided on Friday that they couldn't do it. Prepared to be corrected if that is the wrong take though.

[Mr.Magoo]

From my reading of it though Aspire only decided on Friday that they couldn't do it. Prepared to be corrected if that is the wrong take though.

Yes you're correct but nothing appears to have been signed off by them 12 months ago to commit to it. The council could then have sued for breach of contract and business insurance  could have covered the shortfall as emergency measures were put in place to keep the service running. It's just unprofessional by the council really. They were just hoping everything would be ok. That's my reading of it.

[redshift]

Yes you're correct but nothing appears to have been signed off by them 12 months ago to commit to it. The council could then have sued for breach of contract and business insurance  could have covered the shortfall as emergency measures were put in place to keep the service running. It's just unprofessional by the council really. They were just hoping everything would be ok. That's my reading of it.

If Aspire have gone into liquidation, suing them would just mean the council throwing good money after bad surely?

[Mr.Magoo]

If Aspire have gone into liquidation, suing them would just mean the council throwing good money after bad surely?

Hence the insurance bond that should be taken out in case the proposed project fails. It's simple really. If the proposed company trying to take over a project can't get liability insurance against breach of contract you shouldn't be dealing with them in the first place.

[OldDirtyGlasses]

Aspire are (were) a charitable trust? Without funding it’s a dead duck. Canal & Rivers Trust going the same way.
It’s not Sunak’s Britain, it’s 13+ yrs of Conservative government, but (the collective) we are the idiots who keep letting them get away with it & vote them back in.

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

It's so bad that even Shandy's getting serious. I tell you we're all doomed.

Yarg and wibble.

[charlie]

Would be nice if the club offered affected staff a free ticket to our game against Chorley. They must be going through a terrible time so getting some free sport might hopefully give them something good to have and gives us great PR.

We’re all sport in Gloucester after all.