Leisure Contract Update
To consider the report of the Leisure Contract Task and Finish Working Group (copy enclosed).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Council considered the report of the Leisure Contract Member Task and Finish Working Group (the Working Group) advising of recommendations coming forward from the Working Group in relation to the current position with the Leisure Services Contract and seeking authorisation to extend the current arrangement with Places Leisure. The report also sought approval for the Working Group to continue to meet to review further proposals, negotiations and make further recommendations to the Council.
The report provided background information following the report to the Council in July 2020 and the opening of the Blackwater and Dengie 100 Leisure Centres on Monday 10 August 2020.
It was noted that the Working Group had considered the legal advice, analysed and challenged information provided and were now making a number of recommendations to the Council. The Minutes of this meeting along with figures provided by Places Leisure were set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
Legal advice, cost implications along with the long-term options for the leisure centres were set out in the report.
The Leader of the Council presented the report and thanked all Members and Officers involved. Councillor K W Jarvis, Chairman of the Working Group highlighted key points and provided further information.
The Chairman then put the recommendations as set out in the report and this was duly seconded.
A debate ensued and in response to a number of questions further information was provided by the Commercial Manager and Director of Service Delivery.
In response to a question regarding the specific number of people using the Leisure Centres, the Commercial Manager advised that he did not have this information to hand but would circulate it outside of the meeting.
The Chairman moved the recommendations which were agreed by assent.
RESOLVED
(i) That the Council extends it provision of financial support to Places Leisure to 31 March 2021 (previously agreed to 31 December 2020);
(ii) that the Leisure Contract Member Task and Finish Working Group (the Working Group) continues to meet to consider future variations to the leisure contract and provide further updates to meetings of the Council in relation to the long-term provisions of the contract;
(iii) that the Working Group reports back to the Council on 4 February 2021 with further updates and recommendations.