Leisure centre usage and costs

Request data on leisure centre attendance, operating costs, and subsidy.

Many councils operate or fund leisure centres, swimming pools, and sports facilities. An FOI request can reveal how well they are being used and what they cost the public purse.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information for [FINANCIAL YEAR e.g. 2024-25]: 1. The total number of visits to each leisure facility operated or funded by the council. 2. The total operating cost for each facility. 3. The total income generated by each facility (including membership fees, pay-and-play, and any other charges). 4. The net subsidy from the council to each facility (i.e. operating cost minus income). I would prefer to receive this as a spreadsheet or CSV if possible. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Your local council or the leisure trust that operates facilities on the council’s behalf. Many councils have transferred leisure services to arm’s-length trusts. Find the right body on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • If leisure services are operated by a trust (e.g. a culture and leisure trust), the trust itself is likely to be a public authority for FOI purposes. Submit your request to the trust.
  • The net subsidy per visit is a useful benchmark. Divide the net subsidy by the number of visits to calculate the cost per visit.
  • If a facility is under threat of closure, this data helps assess whether the business case for closure is sound.