Decision details

To cease the indoor bowls service at the BIBC and identify arrangements for short- and long-term use of the space to deliver leisure activities that support a range of demographics within the community.

To remove the budget pressure connected with the indoor bowls service at the BIBC.

The BCP Indoor Bowls needs assessment identified that we currently exceed capacity in terms of facilities to meet the demands of indoor bowling across the authority. The club currently using the BIBC have a declining membership which has resulted in the budget pressure.

The East Dorset and Poole Dolphin indoor bowls facilities are performing well and have the capacity for the existing Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Club to transfer over whilst allowing more than enough capacity to grow and meet the local demands of the activity in the future. Many of the Bournemouth Indoor Bowls club members have already taken up negotiated discounted joining fees and transferred to these alternative clubs.

To meet the objectives of the Boscombe Towns Fund business case, we need to introduce sustainable, viable and accessible services for a wider demographic. The indoor bowls service is in decline and restricts further activity within the bowls hall. By removing this service we have the opportunity to introduce multiple services and activities to vastly increase weekly footfall and tackle inactivity figures in the area.