OXFORD'S leisure facilities could be boosted by proposals to hand over council-owned swimming pools and leisure centres to a charitable trust.

Moves to follow the example of numerous other local authorities and hand over the running of council leisure facilities will be advanced next week by the city council's executive board.

The ruling Lib Dems believe a radical shake-up in the management of leisure facilities will boost investment in plans to create a combined ice rink and swimming pool, likely to be sited in Temple Cowley.

The council's executive is expected to allocate £75,000 to examine the implications. The council believes the move could make savings of £30,000 in 2008-9, rising to to £700,000 in 2009-10.

The market research will look at the possibility of leisure facilities remaining 'in house'. But rising costs, deteriorating facilities and poor value for money now look certain to mean that the main focus will be on whether leisure attractions should pass into one or more trusts.

David Rundle, the deputy leader of Oxford City Council, said: "We have known for a long time that there is a need to improve the quality of services for users and other groups. Obviously there is a long history of problems in managing leisure in the city."