Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery updating Members on the outcome of the competitive procurement process to identify a new leisure services provider for a contract period of between 10 and 25 years and seeking award of a new 20-year contract commencing on 1 February 2025.

The report provided background information leading up to the Council agreeing Officers to undertake a competitive procurement exercise and the results. Appendix 1 to the report set out the preferred bidder identified. The report set out the requirements that the Council had to follow under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

The Chief Executive presented the report, and this was followed by a short presented by the Commercial Manager which highlighted the options available to Members, as set out in the report.

The Chairperson then moved the recommendations as set out in the report and these were duly seconded.

During the lengthy debate that followed a number of Members expressed their views both in support and against the new Leisure Contract and the procurement process undertaken. In response to questions raised the Commercial Manager and the Council’s External Consultant (Mr Thompson) provided the Council with additional information.

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor W Stamp requested a recorded vote, and this request was duly seconded. 

The Council thanked the Chief Executive, Commercial Manager and External Consultant for their work on this contract.

The Chairperson then put all four recommendations on-block to the Council and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, V J Bell, D O Bown, J Driver, M F L Durham, A Fittock, L J Haywood, J C Hughes, N R Miller, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, R G Pratt, N G F Shaughnessy, R H Siddall, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, E L Stephens, N J Swindle and M E Thompson.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors A S Fluker, K Jennings, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, M G Neall, U G C Siddall-Norman, W Stamp and J C Stilts.

Abstention:

Councillor S J Burwood.

At this point, Councillor K M H Lagan requested that his vote against the recommendation be recorded. This was duly noted.

RESOLVED

(i)             That the outcome of the procurement process undertaken in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Appendix 1 to the report) be noted;

(ii)            That the preferred bidder (Bidder 3) be awarded the Council’s Leisure Contract for a contractual term of 20-years, commencing on 1 February 2025;

(iii)          That it be noted that the preferred bid requires an initial capital investment (to be paid back over the lifetime of the contract from the increased management fee) and an update to the 2024 / 25 Capital and Treasury Management Strategy (the subject of a separate report on the agenda for this meeting);

(iv)          That 5% of net income received annually be ring-fenced in a Leisure Contract sinking fund for any future Council maintenance liabilities (any surplus balances of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 402