Gateshead Leisure Centre: Watchdog confirms 'concerns' over Labour councillor who fronted reopening

The charities watchdog is looking into “concerns” raised about a Labour councillor who fronted the reopening of Gateshead Leisure Centre.

Regulator the Charity Commission told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that it was “aware of concerns” about Robert Waugh and was “assessing information available to us” before taking any further action. Coun Waugh is understood to have left his post recently as the CEO of Gateshead Active, the charity which took over the running of the sports centre from Gateshead Council earlier this year.

Local authority bosses say they have also been informed of the issue, the details of which have not been disclosed publicly, but that they retain “full confidence” in the management team at the leisure centre. Gateshead Active confirmed that Coun Waugh was no longer serving on its board and said that the leisure centre was “truly thriving” since its relaunch in the summer.

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However, Coun Waugh replied that he was unaware of any concerns about him. A former deputy mayor of Gateshead, he helped form Gateshead Active after news of the impending closure emerged in 2022 and became the public face of the organisation which sought to revive the Alexandra Road leisure centre following the controversy that ultimately saw it shut down under local authority budget cuts.

Having lost his former Saltwell seat in May last year amid a community backlash against the Labour-run council over the closure, Coun Waugh then returned to the council just two months ago when he won a by-election in the neighbouring Bridges ward.

The popular Gateshead Leisure Centre was closed by the council in July 2023, with the cash-strapped local authority saying it could no longer afford to run it. That decision sparked an outcry from locals, who were left devastated by its loss – with complaints that the closure left local sports clubs homeless, forced nearby schools to pay huge travel bills to take pupils elsewhere for swimming lessons, and had a severe impact on people’s physical and mental health.

But the site was saved when Gateshead Active took the keys, having successfully completed a community asset transfer from the council and raised around £350,000 – including £105,000 from Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund and £150,000 from social investment organisation Keyfund. Gateshead Leisure Centre was reopened in June this year, to huge excitement from its surrounding community that had been so saddened by the sight of the huge building being boarded up for 11 months.

Coun Waugh remains listed on the Charity Commission website as being Gateshead Active’s chair, and as a director on Companies House. However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that he has left his position. A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We are aware of concerns about the former Chair of Trustees of Gateshead Active and are assessing information available to us to determine any next steps.”

Gateshead Council leisure services director Michael Lamb added that the authority was “aware of these concerns and we are working with Gateshead Active trustees on appropriate next steps they may wish to take”. Mr Lamb said that the council “remains committed” to supporting Gateshead Active’s trustees and has “full confidence in them continuing to make a success of Gateshead Leisure Centre now and in the future”.

Gateshead Active’s board of trustees said: “The Trustees of Gateshead Leisure Centre can confirm that Robert Waugh, who was appointed CEO of Gateshead Leisure Centre at the opening, is no longer serving in that role and is no longer part of the Trustee board. The Board of Trustees is working closely with the Charity Commission and Gateshead Council.

“Since the reopening of Gateshead Leisure Centre in July our fantastic community facility is truly thriving. It's wonderful to see so many local people and families using the gym, swimming pool, soft play and other facilities. The Trustees look forward to continuing to serve the community for many years to come.”

Coun Waugh said that he had “not been made aware of any issues” before being contacted by the LDRS on Monday. He added: “I helped form Gateshead Active from a public meeting in October 2022, and I was appointed CEO of the leisure centre's trading arm in late 2023. I undertook this role in a full voluntary capacity for four months, before becoming a paid member of the team in April this year.

“To avoid any conflict of interest it was always the plan for me to step down as a trustee, which I did earlier this year. I have dedicated two years to the centre from our first public meeting, to the successful reopening exceeding all targets we aimed to hit.

“I am proud of what was achieved. I have been in regular contact with the board of Gateshead Active but have not been informed of any concerns. I will cooperate with any organisation to address any concerns that may be had and have reached out to the Charity Commission for any information. The future of the centre is the most important thing and as always I will do whatever I can in the best interests of the centre.”