For Hirers, Clubs, Schools & Organisations
From 1 April 2026, our organisation will operate under a new Agency Partnership Model, meaning we will deliver facility hire services on behalf of Neath Port Talbot Council.
This approach is already widely used across the UK, where leisure operators act as agents and local councils remain the contracting party.
What This Means for You as a Hirer
- Your hire agreement will now be held with Neath Port Talbot Council.
- Celtic Leisure will continue to operate the centres and manage all bookings as we do today.
- Your booking arrangements, access and use of facilities remain unchanged.
- Hire prices remain the same unless adjusted through normal annual review processes.
- Some documentation may be updated to reflect the new contracting party.
- No action is required — everything updates automatically.
Why This Change Is Happening
Recent HMRC VAT policy changes allow councils to manage leisure services more efficiently through agency arrangements. This model has already demonstrated significant financial and operational benefits for councils across the UK, helping to protect and sustain local leisure services.
By adopting this model, Neath Port Talbot Council can continue to:
- Safeguard community access to facilities
- Strengthen financial resilience
- Support long‑term investment in local leisure and wellbeing services
- Maintain affordable access for organisations and community groups
What Stays the Same
There is no change to your day‑to‑day experience:
Your current booking schedules
- Access times and reserved slots
- Facility availability
- Staffing and operational management
- Communication with the Celtic Leisure bookings team
- Hirer responsibilities (e.g., safeguarding, insurance, qualifications)
Celtic Leisure remains your operational contact, managing all bookings on behalf of the Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
A full FAQ for hirers and organisations is available here:
Hirer Agency Model FAQ
From 1 April 2026, our organisation will operate under an Agency Partnership Model with Neath Port Talbot Council.
This means that all hire agreements, bookings, and invoicing will legally sit with Neath Port Talbot Council, while we continue to deliver day-to-day operations exactly as we do now.
This model mirrors the one used widely by councils across the UK — where the operator acts as agent and the council is the contracting party.
This change is part of a wider shift in the UK leisure sector following national HMRC VAT policy changes, which make it financially more efficient for councils to oversee leisure services directly, even when day-to-day operations are delivered by an agent.
Many councils have already adopted this model to:
- Protect community services
- Improve financial sustainability
- Simplify VAT and income arrangements
- Ensure public leisure facilities remain affordable and accessible
No — your terms of use, booking arrangements, and access will stay the same.
The only difference is that your contract will now be with Neath Port Talbot Council instead of our organisation.
There is no automatic price change as part of this transition.
Any price adjustments would follow the usual annual review process and would not be linked to the agency model.
No. All existing bookings and agreements will be automatically transferred to the Council.
Should a renewal or new hire period begin after 1 April 2026, new documentation will be issued under the updated structure.
You will continue to receive invoices in the usual way, but:
- Invoices will now be issued on behalf of Neath Port Talbot Council
- Payment details or references may change
- The Council will appear as the contracting party on your documents
All invoices will clearly state the correct payment instructions.
All payments must still be made directly to Celtic Leisure, as normal
Celtic Leisure will continue to receive and process payments on behalf of Neath Port Talbot Council.
Any unpaid invoices issued prior to 1 April 2026 will still need to be settled as normal, but depending on timing, you may receive a Council‑branded reminder or updated payment reference.
If anything changes in relation to debt recovery, we will notify you in advance.
No. Your scheduled slots, weekly sessions, and confirmed bookings remain unchanged.
We will continue to manage facility access and staffing exactly as before.
You should continue to contact the same team you contact now — nothing changes operationally.
We will manage your booking on behalf of the Council, but your day‑to‑day communication remains with our staff.
Your organisation’s responsibilities for:
- Public liability
- Safeguarding arrangements
- Coaching qualifications
- Risk assessments
remain unchanged.
Where applicable, the Council will now sit as the contracting party, but your operational obligations stay exactly the same.
Yes. Your data will continue to be handled securely and in line with GDPR.
The only change is that data will now be processed on behalf of Neath Port Talbot Council, with updated privacy notices to reflect this.
Yes — it is already widely used across the UK by major leisure operators. These councils have seen improved financial stability and reduced VAT liabilities thanks to updated national policy guidance.
Nothing. Your agreement and bookings will transfer automatically.
If you have questions, we’re here to help — simply contact your usual bookings team
