Swale to decide on new leisure deal covering Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Faversham

Residents who use Sheppey Leisure Complex, Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne or Faversham Pools could see big changes to how those facilities are run. Swale Borough Council’s Housing, Health and Communities Committee was due to consider the proposed contract on 1 October 2026, with a follow-up decision at the Policy and Resources Committee on 6 October 2026.

Under the plans, a single external operator would manage all three sites on the council’s behalf from 1 April 2027. The council would keep ownership of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey centres and the indoor pools at Faversham. Faversham’s outdoor pools would stay with the Faversham Pools Trust under a long lease back to the council — the buildings don’t change hands, just the day-to-day running.

So what do residents actually get out of it? Discounted memberships for people on low incomes, free access for carers, and a single membership valid across all three sites. Full-time outreach teams would promote healthy living and work directly with community groups not currently using the centres. The council says the approach could cut running costs and free up funding for community health workers, without passing extra costs to taxpayers.

Mike Ellsmore, Co-Chair of Faversham Pools, said bringing the pools into the wider Swale contract could support their long-term future while protecting their heritage and securing upgrades. The plans include specific protection for the individual character of each centre — Faversham Pools’ history included.

Energy-saving technology is also proposed to trim running costs and meet environmental targets.

Key figures and dates at a glance:

• Contract length: 10 to 15 years
• Operator start date: 1 April 2027
• Committee meetings: 1 October and 6 October 2026

No preferred operator had been named as of the October committee meetings. That announcement was planned for the end of October 2026, once the statutory procurement process — the competitive-tendering rules councils must follow for contracts of this size — was completed.

The Policy and Resources Committee meets on 6 October 2026 to consider the operating model before the council finalises and announces the chosen provider later that month.