A CALL has gone out for a "root and branch" review of Oxford's failing leisure services after it emerged staff shortages forced another leisure centre to shut for a day.

Barton Pool was meant to open last Wednesday, the first day after the Christmas break, but sickness forced it to close as no cover was available.

The situation mirrors what happened during last year's school holidays.

During half-term, some Oxford City Council-run leisure centres had to close early and events were cancelled because of sickness and staff shortages.

Problems have been compounded by the fact staff at centres with a full turn-out of employees do not have to work at those struggling with numbers because of dated contractual arrangements.

The man in charge of council leisure services has now admitted it "needed help" because, for years, no-one knew how many staff were employed.

Work has now started on a fundamental root-and-branch review of working practices within leisure.

City council deputy leader David Rundle said: "Leisure needs help, this is an organisation that for years has not been well organised.

"Frankly, we need special measures for leisure and this is it - a reflection of how deep-rooted and long-term some of the problems have been. We need a root-and-branch review of how we do things.

"This is about how we get absolute clarity of how the organisation is running and how we ensure we can provide as good a service as possible to users and support our hard working staff.

"We have been living beyond our means.

"I am determined that we don't just continue to provide the service we do, but improve that service."

New city council chief executive, Peter Sloman, is chairing the review.

Last year was a particularly bad one for city council leisure provision.

A notice was put up outside the Ferry Sports Centre, in Summertown, during half-term in October informing those who had turned up that no inflatables would be used during a family fun day because of "health and safety reasons" - the pool was short of lifeguards.

Staffing crises forced pools at the Temple Cowley and Barton sports centres to shut early.

Official figures showed staff illness between April and October last year amounted to 8,000 lost days.

A city council spokesman said: "It was unfortunate that when the holiday period was over, staff were off sick at the Barton site and regrettably we had to close this facility for one day.

"However, every other centre was opened and operating its normal hours."