Volunteer trustees to operate Royal Borough leisure centres

A new team of volunteer trustees appointed to operate the Royal Borough's four leisure centres will create 'better and more cost-effective' services, according to the council.

The borough has appointed 12 members to the Royal Borough Leisure Trust, which is set to take over the running of the Magnet, Windsor, Cox Green and Charters leisure centres by June 1.

The trust, which will be independent from the council, features volunteers from a range of backgrounds who will be tasked with bidding for cash to improve services and finding new ways to market and improve facilities.

The borough said the contract will create VAT and business rate savings, and the trust would be able to gain funding which the council cannot.

Among the new trustees is Jeff Lloyd, a well-known Maidenhead figure and former Magnet Leisure Centre employee who described the facility as the 'pumping heart' of the town.

The financial advisor said he applied to join the trust because he felt he could contribute his knowledge of the area and 'some of the pitfalls and pratfalls' that come with it.

The part-time DJ added trustees were holding regular meetings to 'thrash out' the details of their roles but said he believed regular users of the centres will see 'positive changes' to the services they use.

Retired businessman David Anthony will be chairman of the trust, which also includes Cllr Duncan McBride, chairman of the council's audit and performance review panel.

The council is set to begin the transition process on Tuesday and all members of staff at the leisure centres have been informed.

A NEW team of volunteer trustees appointed to operate the Royal Borough's four leisure centres will create 'better and more cost-effective' services, according to the council.

The borough has appointed 12 members to the Royal Borough Leisure Trust, which is set to take over the running of the Magnet, Windsor, Cox Green and Charters leisure centres by June 1.

The trust, which will be monitored by the council, features volunteers from a range of backgrounds who will be tasked with bidding for cash to improve services and finding new ways to market and improve facilities.

The borough said the contract will create VAT and business rate savings, and the trust would be able to gain funding which the council cannot.

Among the new trustees is Jeff Lloyd, a well-known Maidenhead figure and former Magnet Leisure Centre employee who described the facility as the 'pumping heart' of the town.

The financial advisor said he applied to join the trust because he felt he could contribute his knowledge of the area and 'some of the pitfalls and pratfalls' that come with it.

The part-time DJ added trustees were holding regular meetings to 'thrash out' the details of their roles but said he believed regular users of the centres will see 'positive changes' to the services they use.

Retired businessman David Anthony will be chairman of the trust, which also includes Cllr Duncan McBride, chairman of the council's audit and performance review panel.

The council is set to begin the transition process on Tuesday and all members of staff at the leisure centres have been informed.