Belfast City Council has voted in favour of outsourcing the management of the city’s leisure centres.

Under the move, 300 staff employed at the leisure centre will be transferred under a new operator.

While unions were critical of the move councillor Gavin Robinson said that outsourcing move was necessary in order to improve the affordability of the leisure centres

Bumper Graham, of trade union Nipsa, said: "We accept a need to modernise, but there is no need to create a new model. This could affect a significant number of staff."

Mr Robinson said that: “Sustaining the business is key to protecting existing jobs, providing career development opportunities, and enabling the creation of new jobs and apprenticeships.”

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