A plan to run leisure facilities through a trust will be looked at by St Albans District Council.

This will produce business rates and VAT savings and there will also be an opportunity for local representatives to get involved in the management of the facilities to ensure that aims and challenges are met.

Last year, cabinet agreed a leisure trust should be introduced to manage the facilities and provide legal, property and commercial arrangements, which will now be considered at a meeting on Tuesday, October 22.

It is proposed that the trust will include the following facilities currently managed by Leisure Connection:

Alban Arena

• London Colney Recreation Centre

• Westminster Lodge outdoor sports facilities (including the athletics track and golf course)

• Batchwood Golf and Leisure Centre

• Harpenden Leisure Centre

• Harpenden Pool

• Harpenden Public Halls The proposal involves Leisure Connection sub-contracting to a leisure trust the operational elements of the facilities it manages on behalf of the council.

The Sports and Leisure Management (Everyone Active) contract for the new Westminster Lodge operates under the trust model.