political
forecasts
.COM
T
O
OCKPHO
©IST
year of
change
How will this year’s inevitable
upheaval in the political landscape
affect the physical activity sectors?
George McGregor investigates
W
hatever the political (revenue and capital) sitting at £2.1bn Making a splash: By 2012, Labour
complexion of the next (DCMS ministers have no say on precisely hopes to roll out its free swimming
government, it faces a how the £9.3bn for the Olympics is spent, initiative, making it available
mammoth and compelling having only a general overseeing role). to everyone across the UK
priority that’s likely to stretch through However, it has one of the broadest
the next two parliaments and potentially reaches of any government department, salience of health, education and the
beyond: restoring the health of UK with responsibility for sectors touching economy. Nevertheless, each of the
public finances. Budget cuts are the daily lives of most UK citizens. competing DCMS teams – led by Ben
inevitable. So how will this affect the As 97 per cent of the total DCMS Bradshaw for Labour and Jeremy Hunt
sports world in general, and the health budget is allocated to around 55 for the Conservatives – is seeking to
and fitness industry in particular? sponsored bodies, including Sport demonstrate that they would be more
England, any tightening of the DCMS sympathetic and effective custodians
culture, media and sport budget will fall disproportionately of the nation’s cultural and sporting
The Department of Culture, Media and on these organisations. Many have heritage, and more effective supporters
Sport (DCMS) is key to the fitness already had to announce either cuts or of the “New Economy”.
industry, encompassing as it does both restructuring. A number of programmes On sport, the parties will try to
sport and the 2012 Olympics. It may be running across the fi tness industry are maintain a truce on the Olympics and
tiny in terms of budget, particularly in funded by Sport England, and DCMS both will strongly support England’s
comparison to the billions spent on budget cuts would likely affect them. bid for the 2018 World Cup. However,
hospitals and schools – DCMS spends just DCMS issues are not typically dividing lines are beginning to appear
£1 of every £300 spent by government, battleground issues at General on other issues. Whoever ends up as
with the current total DCMS budget Election time, lacking the political Secretary of State is likely to face the
same daunting challenge of overseeing a
department whose budget is likely to be
“SPORT ENGLAND CURRENTLY FUNDS A
frozen or reduced in real terms. Diffi cult
NUMBER OF PROGRAMMES IN THE FITNESS
decisions will have to be taken about
what to cut and what to protect. These
SECTOR, BUT DCMS CUTS MAY AFFECT THIS”
will inevitably produce a fi erce kickback
from those who rely on funding.
february 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Health Club Management online 63
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
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