Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Leisure Contract Member Task and Finish Working Group, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Leisure Contract Member Task and Finish Working Group (LCWG) seeking approval for the LCWG to continue to meet to review proposals, negotiations and to make further recommendations to the Council.

The Chairman drew Members’ attention to the addendum circulated prior to the meeting which provided an update on circumstances and figures since the report was published. 

It was noted that the Blackwater Leisure Centre and Dengie 100 opened on 10 August 2020.  The LCWG had met to consider the legal advice and analyse & challenge the information provided by Places Leisure.  The Minutes of this meeting along with figures provided were set out in Appendix A to the report.

Members were advised that there was a need for the LCWG to scrutinise the long-term options for the Leisure Centres and these options were set out in the report.  It was therefore requested that support be continued up to 31 December 2020 and the LCWG would present further options to the Council at its meeting on 17 December 2020.

The Commercial Manager presented the report and outlined the recommendations set out within the report and the need for additional data to allow better analysis of the financial position.

The Leader of the Council moved that the recommendations as set out in the report be agreed.  This was duly seconded.

A debate ensued, during which Members commented on the report and further information was provided by Officers.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Commercial Manager and this team for the work they had done, and the support given to the LCWG.  She proposed that the recommendations be agreed.  This was duly agreed by assent.

Councillor C Morris asked that it be recorded that he would abstain from voting.

RESOLVED

(i)              That the Council extends its provision of financial support to Places Leisure to 31 December 2020;

(ii)            That the Leisure Contract Member Task and Finish 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 Leisure Contract Member Task and Finish Working Group reports back to the Council on 17 December 2020 with further recommendations.