South Leeds Sports Centre will stay open for at least another four months after councillors yesterday rubber-stamped the decision to postpone its closure.
The centre in Beeston will continue to operate while negotiations take place between council officials and Tiger 11, a Beeston community group interested in taking over the building.
The decision, taken yesterday at the Leeds City Council executive board meeting, comes on the day of the opening of Morley's new leisure centre, which triggered the possible closure of the South Leeds Sports Centre.
But concerns were raised at the executive board meeting by opposition leader Andrew Carter about the decision to keep both facilities open, at a cost of almost £130,000.
He said:
"In the financial position we are in, I am worried we now have two sports centres with insufficient staff. We are subsidising this four-month period with a significant amount of money."
A further report is expected at the council's executive board in the next four months about the community bid by Tiger 11 to save the sports centre.
Woodhouse Moor barbeque
The controversial plans for a dedicated barbecue area on Woodhouse Moor were scrapped by Leeds City Council at the executive board meeting yesterday following a successful residents' campaign.
The current ban on barbecues in the area will continue and be enforced by Park Watch Officers.
Last month, more than 50 residents at a Hyde Park and Woodhouse Forum meeting spoke out against the barbecue area, which was to be introduced following complaints about damage done to the grass and large amounts of rubbish being left behind.
Councillor Stewart Golton said:
"I am pleased this is working. However I would like to see similar reinforcements in other areas of the city."
Despite the ban, no one had been fined in the area after a total of 71 incidents were logged by Park Watch Officers during April and May 2010. Leeds City Council said they were hoping for a policy of 'persuasion rather than legal action' when dealing with the ban.
Wetherby tourist sign
The decision for a brown tourist sign to attract visitors and traders to Wetherby cannot be taken by the council, the executive board said yesterday.
"Businesses in Wetherby have seen a reduction in trade since the sign went down," said a spokeswoman from Wetherby Business Association. "They've been faced with a complete drop-off in trade - six shops could potentially close on top of the five that already have.
"Please do not let our town die - give us back our brown sign."
Councillor Andrew Carer said: "The sign will have to come from a third party and be financed by a third party under regulations from the Department of Transport."
The association's campaign for the sign has been supported by the Wetherby News.
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