REGARDING The Insider column (Oxford Mail, January 29).

The fact is Labour is not privatising the city council’s leisure facilities.

We are actually preparing to start a working relationship with Fusion, which is a well developed, registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

The leisure centres will be leased to the provider for the period of the contract, which is 10 years.

The leases will spell out repairs and maintenance responsibilities.

The staff will transfer with full TUPE and pension rights and they have all been briefed, including the union, wich has been kept informed from the start of the negotiations.

All staff working for Fusion in Oxford will earn a living wage – something the Lib Dems actively opposed in their time running the council.

I hope the public can see that the city council has no option, due to the major cost of running the leisure service – and without the charitable status that Fusion will bring, we would not be able to provide the leisure services that the public deserves.

The staff will benefit by improved development in customer service and a better chance of promotions by working for this fast growing charity.

I hope this clarifies the city council’s leisure provision.

BOB TIMBS Executive Board Member for Leisure and Sport Lye Valley Ward Oxford City Council