Money set aside for improvements to swimming pools, leisure centres and road maintenance across Doncaster

Money saved from various departments across the council will be spent on upgrading leisure centres, swimming pools, highways maintenance and a family centre.

The £6.04m underspend will increase general reserves in 2020/21 and will be earmarked in 2021/22.

Around £3.9 million will be spent on the refurbishment and facility development at Askern Leisure Centre, Edlington Community Swimming Pool, Rossington Community Swimming Pool and Thorne Leisure Centre.

Some money may also be given to help bolster a potential ‘Rugby League World Cup legacy contribution’.

Around £2 million is being put towards ‘severe weather highways maintenance’ and road safety schemes while £139,000 is being spent on early interventions in children’s services and improvements to Beechfield Family Centre.

Sennette Wroot, senior policy and insight manager at DMBC, said: “Once the underspend has been allocated to the projects the level of uncommitted reserves will be £16.5m.

“This is not excessive for a council of our size, which spends £500 millon a year; £16.5 million would only run the council for 12 days.

“This level of reserves is considered adequate to meet known risks and contingencies.

“Careful consideration should continue to be given before funding any unexpected costs from reserves and where possible unused funds should be transferred to the uncommitted reserves thereby increasing the balance available.”

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