Issue - meetings

That:

1)        having considered the range of options for the future management of the Council's leisure centres the following recommendation be approved:

(a)       Option D - To begin the procurement process for new leisure operating contracts;

(b)       Option 2 – To procure these as Leisure Operating Contracts;

(c)        The contracts will be 10 years in duration with an option for a 5 year extension.

2)        having considered the range of options for contract scope the following recommendation be approved:

(a)       The inclusion of specific public health and wellbeing outcomes;

(b)       The flexibility to allow facilities owned by neighbouring Local Authorities to be added to the contract at a later date;

(c)        That the Director of Health and Wellbeing and Executive Member for Environment are delegated to decide if pitch bookings, and Ryeish Green Site are included in the contract.

3)        authority be delegated to the Director of Health and Wellbeing and Executive Member for Environment to approve the contract terms.

The Executive considered a report setting out options for the future management of the Council’s leisure centres.

The Executive Member for Environment advised that the current contract was due to expire in April 2018 and there was therefore a need to agree the option for acquiring a new contract.  Councillor Ross went through the four options, including their advantages and disadvantages, as outlined in the report and advised that the preferred option was to tender for a new contract to manage the facilities with the ability to add further facilities over the period if required.  Within the preferred contract there were different types of contract which could be used and the one that was being proposed was similar to the current contract i.e. a leisure operating contract which would allow the contractor to focus on delivery of the Council’s key objectives.  This would enable construction of any new facilities to be separate from the contract but once up and running they could then be included in the operating contract.

The preferred option would also enable the incorporation of the Arborfield gym from 2018 and the possibility of incorporating Ryeish Green if required.

Councillor Haitham Taylor was keen that social and public health outcomes would be included in the new contract scope as well as outreach programmes as she felt it was essential that there was a tie-in with the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the outcomes included therein.  Councillor Haitham Taylor also wanted the Council to consider how it could target specific groups that were known not to be accessing leisure activities eg people with disabilities etc. 

RESOLVED that:

1)        having considered the range of options for the future management of the Council's leisure centres the following recommendation be approved:

(a)       Option D - To begin the procurement process for new leisure operating contracts;

(b)       Option 2 – To procure these as Leisure Operating Contracts;

(c)        The contracts will be 10 years in duration with an option for a 5 year extension.

2)        having considered the range of options for contract scope the following recommendation be approved:

(a)       The inclusion of specific public health and wellbeing outcomes;

(b)       The flexibility to allow facilities owned by neighbouring Local Authorities to be added to the contract at a later date;

(c)        That the Director of Health and Wellbeing and Executive Member for Environment are delegated to decide if pitch bookings, and Ryeish Green Site are included in the contract.

3)        authority be delegated to the Director of Health and Wellbeing and Executive Member for Environment to approve the contract terms.