Angus is on the brink of a new era in how its leisure and culture services are delivered to its 116,000 residents.
Hundreds of Angus Council employees have already been informed of possible changes to the county’s leisure and culture departments at a series of meetings.
The local authority is pressing ahead with plans alluded to during its last budget discussions to put libraries and sports centres in the hands of a new trust.
Councils across Scotland including neighbouring Dundee City run leisure centres, libraries and museums under such an arrangement.
The first moves towards Angus facilities operating under a similar umbrella could come into place next spring.
The Courier received contact speculating the new arrangement would lead to reduced opening hours across the museum and library estate.
However, a union figure yesterday said it is “too early” to say whether the changes will cause any job losses or closures of facilities.
GMB local organiser John Begley said some of his members will be affected by discussions but added that none had yet come to him with any concerns.
A full council meeting of the authority considered a private report earlier this month covering the “future delivery model for culture and leisure services”.
That has been followed by a series of staff information meetings, which are due to conclude towards the end of this week. Details of the proposed new arrangement are then expected to be released by the council.
Leisure and Culture Dundee, a charitable trust, took over the running of some of the city’s top attractions, including the McManus Galleries and the Caird Hall, in 2011. It created a legal entity that is able to enter into contracts, employ staff and own property.
The move saves the council an estimated £1 million in annual non-domestic rates and other expenditure. The charity also swallowed up Dundee Leisure, which runs the Olympia and Lochee swimming centres and several sports centres.