Government minister Francis Maude was full of positive energy as he toured Ramsgate Leisure Centre today.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office said: “It’s impressive to see how many people are coming here on a Monday morning.”

The visit looked at the progress of the centre since it became a mutually run business by Your Leisure last year.

A mutual is an employee-controlled organisation that has left the public sector but continues to deliver public services.

The centre was reopened in August 2013 following a £4m project which added a swimming pool, toning suite and spa.

Mr Maude said that mutuals are “a great innovation” and “the way of the future”.

He said: “This has given people in the district what they want.

“I have seen people using all of the facilities here and I have never seen anything like the toning room here before.

“For me the great benefit for businesses such as this is the freedom from bureaucratic constraints which too often get in the way of innovation in the public sector.

“Facilities like this are part of the government’s long-term plan for a stronger economy.

“With our support mutuals like these could be the way of the future and allow for great innovation.”

The toning room alone has enticed 450 new customers and there has been a 30% growth in swimmers over the past year.

Managing director of Your Leisure Steve Davis said: “The toning room is an example of an idea that has brought a different type of clientele into the business.

“GPs refer their patients here and developments like this mean that we are catering for people of all ages.

“Being a mutual has allowed these ideas to go through without hindrances and I wouldn’t go back to the way it was before.”

The minister said that there would be many more visits by government officials to Thanet before the election.

He added: "Thanet has been a hard fought area ever since 1997 and will continue to be.

"Laura Sandys has done a terrific job here and now Craig Mackinlay is a prominent Conservative and the right man take over.

"He has an interesting history as a founder of Ukip but he understands that the Conservatives are the only viable route to an EU referendum."