Councillors at the authority's cabinet meeting yesterday voted in favour of transferring the swimming baths to the charity but have left it up to YMCA bosses to make the final decision.

And if the YMCA disagree with the council's proposition then the baths will close for good on March 31.

Talks are still ongoing between the council and the YMCA about the future of the seven full-time and six part-time staff.

The 13 staff at Kirkham were issued with redundancy notices before Christmas and are half-way through a 90-day consultation process.

One of the principles set out in the agreement at the meeting was for the YMCA to take on some or all of the staff at the pool.

But the YMCA wants to employ its own staff at the swimming baths and if an agreement cannot be reached the pool will close.

Councillors are now hoping to arrange a meeting between the YMCA and its business partner Rural Splash in the hope of coming to an agreement so the pool can stay open.

Council leader John Coombes said: "This is the best we can offer to the YMCA and we feel it is the right recommendation."

After the meeting, Kirkham councillor Liz Oades said: "I am trying to arrange a meeting but if the recommendation is thrown out then the council have no-one to blame but themselves.