Member Article

£1m reinvested in culture and leisure services in Northumberland

Northumberland County Council has ensured the reinvestment of £1m into leisure and cultural services across the county.

Active Northumberland, the charity and limited company which provides leisure management and development on behalf of the council, will expand from 1st April this year to deliver the full range of cultural services including arts strategy and development, library services, tourism strategy and development, cultural strategy, visitor information, strategic events and heritage development.

Arch, The Northumberland Development Company, operates as an investment and asset-based business with a £115.6million portfolio of commercial and residential property.

Profits from Arch’s commercial activities are reinvested to support economic and social development, and the company is making a £1million charitable contribution to Active Northumberland.

Councillor Grant Davey, Leader of Northumberland County Council said: “This is great news for leisure and cultural services in Northumberland.

“Through looking at how we provide services through our ‘family’ of companies we have been able to sustain a good level of investment in leisure, tourism and culture, while reducing the council’s contribution.

“This is an exciting opportunity and the sort of measure that we are able to consider in Northumberland – and which goes some way to combatting the impact of national austerity measures.”