Plans to spend £272,000 on improved leisure services, including extending library opening hours to Sundays and a £200,000 budget for new library facilities, are being discussed by City of York Council next week (Thursday, January 16, 2003).

The whole of the council's proposed 2003/2004 budget, including specific ideas for new and improved services and savings, is currently up for public consultation. Members of the leisure advisory panel and the executive member are being asked to consider measures to improve leisure provision across the city.

Suggestions for the £11.7m leisure budget include £38,000 to increase opening hours at the city's libraries, including Sunday opening at the Central Library. Councillors could decide to allocate £25,000 to facilitate a programme of festival, events and activities for all York residents to enjoy. This would include a new 'Festival of the Rivers', securing York Music Live , York Dance Week and Sightsonic.

A further £37,000 could be used to develop youth work in the city by expanding the Youth Enquiry Service and increasing the number of people working with minority groups.

£25,000 might also be allocated to extend the range of youth activities. This could include joint initiatives with the Safer York Partnership for youth safe entertainment and extending holiday activities.

Sport in the city could also receive a boost under the proposals. £28,000 could be allocated to appoint a sports development worker to develop rugby league and athletics in York and promote the use of Huntington Stadium.

A total of £130,000 savings have also been identified in the leisure budget. This will come from more efficient use of resources and increased income generation., for example by moving the YORtime shop to the Central Library and by running the £50,000 Young People's Fund over a two year period.

Capital projects might include £200,000 to provide new library facilities as part of the community resource centre for Haxby and Wigginton and £50,000 (in addition to £50,000 from the revenue budget) to carry out playground improvements across the city.

Councillor Alan Jones, the council's executive member for leisure and heritage, said: "These are exciting proposals that will bring new opportunities for every York citizen. We are investing across the board to imporve our services and to focus on the things that residents have told us are most important, especially activities for our young people.

"Through careful targeting of our resources and use of Best Value we are once again able to expand the range and quality of what's available to council tax payers." Councillor Jones and members of the advisory panel are being asked to provide comments on the budget suggestions, which will be discussed at a meeting of full council on Thursday, January 30.

The council is currently continuing its consultation process over the budget.