FLINTSHIRE Council has reached a 'short-term' deal with Aura to keep the county's leisure and library services up and running.

Last month, the authority assured the public that is is doing 'all it can' to protect the services and its employees as its current funding agreement was coming to an end.

In a letter seen by the Leader, Aura Leisure - which runs most leisure centres in Flintshire - claimed the council was "contemplating" withdrawing funding support for it.

The organisation, which runs the Buckley, Mold, Flint and Deeside leisure centres, issued a letter to its employees, saying its funding agreement with Flintshire Council was due to end on March 31.

The issue casted serious doubt over the future of Aura's services, which include running libraries and play areas, as well as the more than 250 jobs that it provides.

But, on Friday (April 12), Flintshire Council confirmed that a 'short-term' deal has been reached between the two parties.

TOP STORIES 

The authority added that they now plan to work on a longer-term solution to protect jobs, as well as services.

A statement from Flintshire Council read: "The Council and Aura have reached a short-term agreement regarding the running of the county’s leisure and library services.

"The focus now will be to work together to identify a longer-term solution for services and provide some reassurance to employees, service users, and residents of Flintshire about the future of provision."