Cabinet members at Uttlesford District Council will be asked to consider an additional £260,000 per annum to support leisure centres in Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow and Stansted.

The council has a Private Finance Initiative contract with 1Life to run the leisure centres, which includes a five-year benchmarking review - providing an opportunity to assess current circumstances and make adjustments. The next review is due in May.

1Life has requested additional financial support from the council as the number of people using the leisure centres has failed to return to pre-Covid levels.

The council is proposing to stop the £13,825 monthly management fee it receives from 1Life, amounting to £165,900 a year.

In addition the council would make monthly contributions of £8,000 a year to 1Life - or £96,000 a year.

The council's support would total £261,900 a year, and would be kept under annual review.

Cllr Alex Armstrong, portfolio holder for sports and leisure, said: "This proposal will help to keep 1Life in business and the leisure centres open for local people at a time when other councils are reducing hours, shutting swimming pools, or closing altogether."

The proposal will be considered by a cabinet meeting on Thursday, December 22.