PLANS to secure the long-term future of Blandford Leisure Centre after district council funding ends in March 2010 go before councillors today.

Cabinet bosses at North Dorset District Council (NDDC) will vote on a recommendation from officers to pay £80,000 to consultants to set up a charitable trust to run the centre.

And senior councillors will also be asked to put up £50,000 to trigger a government grant of twice that amount to modernise changing facilities.

Operating as a trust could save the leisure centre between £60,000 and £70,000 a year on business rates and VAT, say council officers.

If appointed, consultants will also be asked to measure the demand for an expanded gym, which could be built in the space occupied by three squash courts.

Leisure managers say the £150,000 build costs could be recovered from a Section 106 payment from the Hall and Woodhouse brewery redevelopment.

Further improvements could be funded by a successful bid for £100,000 from Sport England to replace lockers, cubicles, and install new poolside seating and safety barriers.

Leisure managers made the bid after the council’s decision last September to sign up to the government’s free swim initiative for the under 16s and over 60s.

But councillors will have to consider a claw back clause in the funding that gives Sport England an interest in the leisure centre for seven years, and the need to invest £50,000 of council cash to complete the work.

Institutions across Blandford, including the senior school, parish church, and army camp, have offered help with fundraising, while Blandford Town Council has committed £50,000 a year for three years to the centre.

A public meeting of the North Dorset District Council’s cabinet starts at 2pm today.