YORK'S four community pools could be in the hands of a new sports trust by the end of 2005, if councillors give proposals the green light.

City of York Council's executive committee will vote on Tuesday whether to back plans for a trust, which would take over operational control of Yearsley, Edmund Wilson and Oaklands pools, as well as a revamped Barbican pool, by October 2005.

A report by council officers estimates that the creation of a trust could cut costs by £226,000 annually, with tax savings giving greater potential to reinvest and improve customer service and facilities.

Continued council ownership of the assets would ensure certain requirements are placed on the trust, such as guaranteeing access hours and discounts.

The council would also have the right to nominate two trustees to the board, and staff would transfer to the trust under existing employment terms and conditions.

The alternative is to continue with an in-house management body, such as that which runs the Barbican Centre at the moment.

The report concludes: "A trust has significant advantages over the in-house option in terms of potential to deliver quality improvement for customers as well as savings for the council."

Councillors voted in September to scrap plans for a county pool at the newly refurbished Barbican Centre, opting instead for a community pool, with the spare land sold for housing on site.

The extra £1.4 million raised will be used to refurbish the Yearsley and Edmund Wilson pools from 2006.

Work to rebuild the Barbican is scheduled to begin in April next year.

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, November 26, 2003