The promised consultation on the future of York's swimming pools could begin in June, according to acting director of leisure services Charlie Croft. He said: "Proposals for a consultation process are being drawn up for members' consideration. "If approved it could start at the beginning of June."

Mr Croft said he believed a report may be going to a leisure services committee meeting on May 8, but it would address broad issues rather than specific options. "It will be general principles first and actual proposals later, after the consultation," he said.

A Barbican Pool user, Mike Wilks, from Aldwark, York, contacted the Evening Press to ask if it was the council's intention to seek tenders for the development of the Barbican site, and was it the intention to do this within the next two months.

Mr Croft said councillors may ask for officers to invite "expressions of interest or ideas from the private sector" as part of the process of drawing up specific options. But he denied there was anything that could lead to a tender being invited in the next two months.

Liberal Democrats have given the council's ruling Labour group a deadline of the end of this month to reveal the contents of the long-awaited report.