RUBICON Leisure will soon be a familiar sight across Redditch, as it takes over the management of the borough council’s leisure facilities on Saturday (December 1).

In time Rubicon Leisure will provide new services, and with new and improved ways to use and book them, as well as dedicated websites, social media, and promotions, all focused exclusively on the leisure and cultural services it delivers.

Cllr Mike Rouse, Redditch Borough Council’s portfolio holder for leisure and tourism, said: “This is a bold new chapter for Redditch, where Rubicon Leisure can build on the work the council has done providing these services.

“Rubicon will be owned and steered by the council for our residents with a mission to improve services for everyone. I’m looking forward to Rubicon Leisure fully establishing itself and unlocking leisure for our community in Redditch.”

Rubicon Leisure is a Local Authority Trading Company, or LATC, which is an alternative way to sustainably deliver some of the council’s leisure and cultural services.

It has a shareholder board made up of five elected borough councillors that makes key decisions, advised by non-executive directors.

Every year its business plan will be approved by the council.

It is also required to work with the council to identify investment into the services where funding allows.

Rubicon Leisure takes over the running of the Palace Theatre as well as the Abbey Stadium, Pitcheroak Golf Course, Forge Mill Needle Museum and Bordesley Abbey, plus some of the town’s community centres, on December 1.