Sports and Exercise Committee: City Council policy needed for partnership projects in sports facility construction

The statement on the investment programme concerns the construction of sports facilities. The committee states that an appropriation for the new building of the Espoonlahti swimming hall must be reserved from the city’s investment programme. The new building must include a deep multi-purpose pool, i.e. a diving pool, as well as outdoor pools.

“According to calculations, the inclusion of a deep multi-purpose swimming pool in the Espoonlahti swimming hall would postpone the need for a new swimming hall by six years,” says Sports Director Martti Merra.

The Sports and Exercise Committee proposes for the investment programme that the multi-purpose hall be implemented in connection with the Tapiola stadium and parking facilities so that construction begins at the same time as the stadium project. If no funding can be found for this from the Sports Park’s balance sheet unit, other alternative funding or partnership models must be sought for the multi-purpose hall.

In addition, the Sports and Exercise Committee proposes to the City Council that it issue guidelines for the implementation of sports facility construction as partnership projects. As the investment programme is rigorous, the partnership model should be recognised throughout the city as an alternative to the city’s own production and as important as the city’s own investments.

“It is important that the city’s rent subsidies can be increased as agreed when the number of partnership facilities increases. In the contexts of projects, we also need to consider how the sports facilities to be built through the partnership model could also serve the needs of schools and early childhood education as well as seniors’ physical activity,” says Leo Heiskanen, Chair of the Sports and Exercise Committee.

Increase in general VAT will enter into force on 1 September 2024

The Espoo Sports and Exercise Committee noted that the increase in the general value added tax from 24% to 25.5% will affect the prices of sports services and products in that tax category. The tax-free price will remain unchanged and the increased VAT will be transferred to the price in full. The change will enter into force on 1 September 2024.

The increase applies to things such as the rent rates of cafeterias and conference facilities at sports facilities and towels rented at swimming halls. The increase will also have an impact on the fees of winter storage for boats.

The Sports and Exercise Committee will decide later in the autumn on the adjustment of the price list entering into force on 1 January 2025. The adjustment aims to take into account the increase in value added tax.

See the meeting minutes (in Finnish).(external link, opens in a new window)