We are deeply concerned about the potential appointment of Serco by the Oxford City Council to run Oxford’s vital leisure services. The council's cabinet is set to approve the new contract at a meeting on 24th of January 2024 but Councillors have said there is “a lot of unhappiness and frustration about the degree to which members have been involved, informed and consulted as part of this process.” 

We urge the Councillors to vote against this contract in their meeting on Wednesday as there are serious concerns about Serco’s competence to run the service, their human rights track record and the conflict this has with the Council's commitments as a city of sanctuary. 

Councillors are urged to follow those in Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland, who recently voted to delay a decision on Serco running their leisure services over fears of price rises and service delivery concerns. 

Serco is a multinational corporation with a controversial track record in managing public services. They were fined £22.9m for fraud and false accounting over an electronic tagging scandal in 2019 and they have been criticized for their performance in running immigration detention centres and prisons. 

We fear that this decision could lead to increased prices, making it harder for many people in our community to access these facilities.

We urge the Oxford City Council not just to consider financial factors but also to take into account public sentiment and welfare along with other city policies when deciding who will manage our vital leisure services.

Please join us in petitioning against this appointment by signing this petition today! Let's ensure that everyone continues having access to affordable and high-quality leisure facilities that fit with the values of our city.