Fitness operators in the public sector are more confident of their future prospects now than they were last year, according to a state of the industry report from sporta.

Sporta’s annual report is now in its eighth year and results show that there has also been an increase in the number of trusts looking to take over facilities within their area. More than 75 per cent of respondents also reported that they were considering expansion of existing facilities.

The study, however, also revealed that trusts still have concerns over their finances. Nearly a quarter of respondents said that reducing subsidy from, or increasing payments to, the local authority was their primary concern.

Other challenges identified in the report, carried out by Leisure-net Solutions, included reaching membership targets and dealing with falling income and rising operating costs.

Craig McAteer, chair of sporta, said: "This report is a vital tool in helping to identify encouraging developments and worrying trends for our sector.

“This year trusts were asked whether they measure the impact and outcomes of what they do, which is so important in these challenging times, so it was reassuring to find that more than 80 per cent of the trusts that responded were aware of this need."

Sporta is the representative body for leisure and cultural trusts in the UK and currently has 109 member trusts which manage just under 900 sites on behalf of local authorities.