DURHAM City Council has unveiled a strategy to improve the quality of people's lives by improving leisure services.

The Liberal Democrat-run council sees recreation as a key to tackling problems such as anti-social behaviour, illness and social exclusion.

It hopes to improve and enhance leisure provision and make it more accessible and affordable.

Companies could have a greater role in service provision and one option that could be explored is the creation of a trust - as Derwentside Council has done - to run the district's five leisure centres.

For some time the council has been investigating the possibility of redeveloping the city's baths with the private sector to create a 'healthy living centre.'

A key aim of the strategy is to improve and invest in existing services and facilities. The document says: "This will be achieved by investigating alternative options for provision that can attract investment and release resources to deliver other key strategic aims.

"A new swimming facility has been identified as a high priority."

The council's deputy leader Grenville Holland said everyone in the district should have a right to a healthy lifestyle and access to excellent facilities and initiatives.

"Access to high-quality leisure opportunities at affordable cost is a key objective," he said.

"The aim is to make a real difference to the lives of communities and individuals.

"In particular, providing for those disadvantaged members of our community will require more creative and innovative approaches to service delivery and new partnerships that challenge traditional ways of managing and delivering services."

The council launched the strategy at an 'industry challenge day' in the Gala Theatre at which leisure firms were invited to share their ideas.

Leisure manager Nigel Dodds said: "We will take some feedback as to who is the best possible service provider for leisure in the Durham area for the future.

"The council will be in the leisure business but it is about finding the best value service provider.

"We are looking at the possibilities of partnerships, looking at options such as trusts and at whether the best option is to keep the service in-house.

"We will only consider options that we feel bring more to the leisure provision of Durham."