Leisure centres in Abingdon and southern Oxfordshire and could be run by a private company later this year.

The centres, at Tilsley Park in Abingdon, Wantage and Faringdon, are run by the Vale of White Horse District Council. But all three are being lined up for a form of privatisation, which will see them operated by Soll Leisure -- a not-for-profit company that controls leisure facilities for South Oxfordshire District Council.

Soll -- South Oxfordshire Leisure Limited -- is based at the Culham Business Park, near Abingdon.

It has been running leisure services for South Oxfordshire District Council for nearly five years and wants to expand its portfolio.

The Vale council is entering into what it says are "detailed and confidential discussions" with the company. A report is expected to be drawn up this summer for the council's executive to discuss and then a recommendation will go to the full council.

The successful White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, in Audlett Drive, Abingdon, opened two years ago, is run for the council by a private company, Community Leisure Services.

It operates the centre on a not-for-profit trust basis. The council believes considerable savings could be made by running the centres at Wantage, Faringdon and Tilsley Park under a trust arrangement, allowing the authority to enjoy tax and VAT advantages.

Council executive member Jerry Patterson said the buildings would still belong to the council but it would not have to pay business rates.

Mr Patterson said that in South Oxfordshire, Soll-run centres had seen customer numbers rise, the council's subsidy was decreasing and more leisure staff were being recruited.

He added: "We're entering into talks with Soll Leisure on a confidential basis.

"We can't ignore the advantages to be had by moving management of leisure facilities from the present in-house arrangement to a trust."