Peterborough culture and leisure services to remain under council control for three more years

The Key Theatre which was previously run by Vivacity

Services previously run by Vivacity transferred to two council-run bodies last year due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time it was announced that leisure centres, libraries, heritage and arts services would be taken over by City Culture Peterborough and Peterborough Limited for at least a year as this would allow the council to receive government support for lost income of up to 75 per cent which would not be possible if the services were outsourced again.

However, the council has now signalled its intention to keep the new arrangement in place for at least three more years to “rationalise and reorganise service delivery in light of the effects of Covid-19”.

It added: “The three year extension will give time to properly reorganise and allow time for the private sector to rebuild in time for a tender exercise in 2024.”

City Culture Peterborough is operated by City College Peterborough Foundation, the charitable arm of City College Peterborough which is legally a department of the city council.

Responsible for the arts and cultural services previously run by Vivacity, City Culture Peterborough is accountable both to its own foundation and the council.

It is also part of a partnership board with the council and Peterborough Ltd which has taken on the running of leisure services previously run by Vivacity.

Peterborough Ltd is also a council body.

A Peterborough City Council spokesperson said: “Covid-19 has had a big impact on culture and leisure services, and as the pandemic has progressed it’s clear that it will take some time before they are 100 per cent commercially viable once again.

“We are in the process of developing an ambitious new long-term culture strategy for the city. We will also soon be starting the process of refreshing our current active lifestyles strategy.

“Due to this we want to protect services by keeping them in our control so that we can assist in both rebuilding and shaping the future of both leisure and culture in the city for years to come.”