BLAENAU Gwent council will meet this week to decide whether to approve a five per cent increase in the council’s leisure services fees.

A report by The Aneurin Leisure Trust was commissioned by the council to manage and deliver a range of leisure functions including libraries, sports centres, arts venues, Bryn Bach Park and Brynmawr community centre.

It proposes an increase in fees and charges for 2015/16 for the council’s executive committee to consider when it meets in the council chamber at the Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale.

If approved, one of the biggest increases in fees would be for those using the council’s floodlit tennis courts on a casual basis by 55p an hour from £3.95 to £4.50. The fee per match would see an increase of £2.10, costing £25.

Adults wanting to swim at the council’s leisure centres would see a rise of 15p from £3 to £3.15 and for junior swimmers from £1.30 to £1.37.

Pensioners using the health suites in Ebbw Vale would see a rise of 13p from £2.55 to £2.68, while the fee for adult education groups to hire a council-run hall would increase by 35p from £11.15 to £11.50.

Groups hiring the Beaufort Theatre and Ballroom for performances would need to find an extra £9.25 for a Sunday show from £340.75 to £350.

The trust was set up in October 2014 and commissioned to manage and deliver a range of services on behalf of Blaenau Gwent council, for which an agreed management fee would be paid by the council to the trust.

The report, by David Watkins, leisure services and facilities manager, will be presented to the committee on April 22.