The Audit Commission is to conduct an independent review into the management of Teignmouth's Broadmeadow Sports Centre.
Teignbridge Executive Committee held a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss the future of the troubled centre and to consider whether the district council should pay off debts of £36,000 and assume control from Teignmouth and Shaldon Sports Council.
'I think I need to make it clear from the outset that Teignbridge wants to see the continued operation of the Broadmeadow Sports Centre,' council leader Cllr Alan Connett said.
He paid tribute to the efforts of manager Rob Wheale and the trustees but added: 'There are issues of management and staff issues which need further investigation. There is a very good and urgent case that we should appoint independent auditors. Ultimately it is council tax payers' money that we are investing.'
Cllr Connett was referring to a report by Cllr David Cox, portfolio holder for community services, which it stated: 'It is very difficult to assess the complete extent of the council's liability here because of the very poor records that there are for the sports centre's employees.'
It continued: 'The sports council provides private health insurance for some staff but no staff have pension arrangements. Arrangements for sick pay are unconventional. They are at the manager's discretion.'
It added: 'Few of the staff have written employment contracts and some of those, which Teignbridge officers have seen, do not specifically name the employee.'
Speaking in defence of the centre's management and blaming under funding for the problems, Cllr Geoff Bladon told the executive: 'Over the years the management of Broadmeadow Sports Centre has been forced to cut corners, usually with the knowledge of Teignbridge officers, to try and stay within the over-tight spending constraints.
'When an overview of of this nature is taken it is all too easy to see Broadmeadow in a bad light.'
Cllr Chris Clarance said: 'I do believe that the sports council down there is best left4 to run things the way it is.' he said. 'He (Mr Wheale) has cut a few corners but that has given the public very good value for money.'
Cllr Connett's response was unequivocal.
'They've got to apply the law,' he said, 'They just can't duck out of things because they find it inconvenient.'
Cllr David Howe was concerned that a £10,000 audit would 'bring us back to square one' with the Broadmeadow Centre facing possible replacement within the next few years but Cllr Connett stuck to his position saying that if the Broadmeadow Centre was allowed to continue, 'They would still be in the position of having this unconventional management.'
Following confirmation from Brian Gray, director of community services, that the new day care nursery adjacent to the Broadmeadow Centre would be unaffected by a review the executive voted to request an independent review by the Audit Commission.
It is expected to last one week at a cost of £1,000 per day and to be conducted in the week beginning June 21.