Jon Argent stepped down as Vice Chair of sporta, the organisation that represents more than 900 leisure facilities across the UK, at its AGM in Manchester this month.

Argent, who held the position for six years, is stepping down due to work commitments and studying for a doctorate, and because he feels it is 'good for the committee to have a change every so often'. The position on the Executive Board has been filled by Peter Gunn, CEO of BH Live, a trust that manages Bournemouth International Conference Centre, the Pavilions and a number of leisure facilities in the Bournemouth area.

Peter Gunn said: "The opportunity to help influence the agenda in terms of the benefits of the trust model for delivering quality culture and leisure services is an exciting one for me, particularly given my experience in one of the most diverse leisure and cultural trusts in the UK, as well as in a number of large leisure venues in the past. I am also looking forward to helping to create a greater awareness of the health, social, wellbeing and economic impact of what we do."

Around 100 sporta members and sponsors attended the event and dinner at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, where updates were given on the current sporta membership, which has now reached 105 leisure trusts across the UK.

Olympic Gold and Silver medallist Darren Campbell, one of Britain's most successful and well known male sprinters, gave an inspirational talk at the sporta dinner. He reflected on his life and career, which began in a relatively deprived community similar to those that many sporta trusts serve, explaining how he progressed through sport and athletics to achieving a Gold Medal and captaincy of the British Athletics team.

Brian Leonard, CEO of sporta said: "Darren's was an especially appropriate message for our trust members, who operate exclusively for public benefit. And it is an important message for local authorities too - to remember how important it is to maintain publicly accessible and affordable facilities."

During the AGM, David Minton, Director of The Leisure Database Company, reported on the latest 'State of the Sector' research, which showed how the number of public sports centres managed by cultural and leisure trusts has grown year on year since 2007, with a significant increase during the last year.

It also showed how trusts manage a sizeable number of other leisure activities and facilities, such as 19% of all climbing walls with in the UK, 27% of all public sector gyms, as well as running tracks, 1/5 of all sports halls and almost a third of all swimming pools and tennis courts.

Baroness Glenys Thornton, who was the House of Lords' Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on the Health Bill, also addressed the delegates. Her presentation, on 'What the new public health arrangements mean', highlighted local level public health changes and where trusts can and should engage.

Photograph: Peter Gunn, CEO of BH Live and Vice Chair of sporta