The Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) and the National Association of Sports Development (NASD) have announced they will continue with plans to create a new professional body, despite the Institute of Sports and Recreation Management’s (ISRM) vote against the current proposals.

ILAM president, Nick Gibbs, said: “I have been speaking with industry leaders and have received complete support for the new body.”

In a statement, the development board – which now consists of representatives of ILAM and NASD, along with chair, Carol Hassan – said the Institute of Sport, Parks and Leisure, the body’s working title, would be operational by the autumn.

ISRM chief executive, Ralph Riley told Leisure Opportunities: “We are still committed to one body, but want one which is fit for purpose and can make a significant difference.” Riley added that the current business model was not sufficiently “robust”.

The next move for the proposed institute is unclear.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said sports minister Richard Caborn “is keen to see a resolution to this dispute and will be seeking to address the issue again in due course.”