A UNION leader has called for more clarity on Brio Leisure’s finances, as it was revealed some of its services may be hit due to the impact of the pandemic.

Brio was set up in 2011 as a community interest company owned by the council to run its leisure, entertainment and sport venues and activities.

But at a recent virtual meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Overview and Scrutiny Committee, members were presented with a report that said the pandemic had cut Brio’s paying membership in half in 2020-21, which had had a major impact on its finances.

The report added membership had gradually increased since the lifting of restrictions, as had income from other services such as catering and entertainment.

But recruitment had also been a significant challenge it said, with Brio having to close or partially close some sites in recent months due to a shortfall in qualified staff.

The report said: “Although signs of recovery are presently encouraging, it is still uncertain as to how and in what form activity levels will compare to pre-pandemic levels.

“If activity levels do not return to at least pre-pandemic levels, remedial action will be needed to ensure the company is financially sustainable.”

The report said Brio was developing a ‘range of options’ that could be implemented as the financial scenario becomes clearer over the next three to six months.

It said: “These options include reductions in the service, generating increased levels of commercial income and restructuring the core membership offer.”

The council agreed last November to support Brio with maximum annual investment of £1.64m a year to help sustain the wider healthy living outcomes that Brio supports.

But the report said the council is working with Brio to develop a sustainable financial model which may involve the council providing some ‘additional short-term support’ to the company.

Addressing the virtual meeting, Ray McHale, Secretary of West Cheshire TUC, said: “Reading this report today I still don’t think the committee has the information necessary to understand and properly scrutinise this company.”

He added: “Given the number of staff affected, I don’t think the once a year review based around the company presentation is adequate and I urge the committee to review how it monitors issues relating to these (council-owned) companies.”

Committee chairman Cllr Martin Barker agreed, and members approved an amendment calling for more financial information to be provided to future scrutiny meetings.