Budget 2022-23: Tennis

We asked

On 28 February 2022, Budget Council agreed a balanced budget for the 2022/23 financial year. The budget was based on assumptions that some services within the Council would stop in order to generate savings and allow for the balanced budget to be achievable.

This included the closure (for a 12-month period) of Wirral Tennis & Sports Centre for redevelopment. A public consultation with regards to this option was opened on the Councils Have Your Say platform between 31 January and 27 March 2022.

You said

The questionnaire had 148 online and 9 paper responses. Of those responses, 65% said they, or somebody they cared for were regular users of Wirral Tennis Centre, and 48% said they were members of the Invigor8 scheme. The overall results were mixed, with an average response over the 3 questions of 43% in favour, and 42% against the budget saving.

The consultation exercise also received representation from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in their capacity as the national governing body for tennis. The LTA expressed concern at the proposed closure of three out of the six indoor tennis courts at the site. Consequently, the LTA have proposed a package of measures that will both deliver the required level of saving at the site together with a wider package of investment funding.

For more information about the consultation and to view the consultation report click here.

We did

The outcome of the consultation, together with the partnership agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association, was reported to the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure committee on Thursday, 16 June 2022. The committee agreed the reinstatement of the tennis offer, and development of community offer at the Wirral Tennis & Sports Centre (WTSC) subject to the implementation of a new model for tennis at the site, established through a partnership agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association.