Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Working Group (the Working Group) advising Members of its initial assessment of a scrutiny request relating to the Leisure Contract submitted by Councillor A M Lay.

The request submitted by Councillor Lay was detailed in a proforma attached at Appendix A to the report. Members were advised that this focused on the communications and messaging following the decision by the Council on 14 November 2024 to award a new leisure contract to its preferred bidder, Places Leisure. The report provided detailed information regarding the process taken along with communications made by the Council and Places Leisure following the decision taken.

It was noted that the Working Group had made an initial assessment of the scrutiny request and concluded that this Committee should be recommended to include its conclusions (as set out in section 4 of the report) as part of the proposed Leisure Contract Post-Implementation Review (PIR) which is the subject of a separate report on this agenda.

The Chairperson put the recommendations set out in the report and these were duly seconded.

Councillor Lay advised he was pleased that these matters would be adopted as part of the PIR in relation to the Leisure Contract. He explained the importance of communication and in particular the impact and messaging that had gone out to residents in relation to the Leisure Contract.

In response to a question the Commercial Manager advised Members of the impact of the redevelopment of the sports hall at Blackwater Leisure Centre on users and the work undertaken by Officers to contact all affected parties and the ongoing work to offer support. It was confirmed that the Council was working with the Plume School regarding possible use of their facilities by affected local groups.

During the discussion that followed Members commented on the impact the changes had on local groups using the Leisure Centre, scrutiny of the procurement process and communications. The Chairperson agreed that there were several lessons to be learnt and then put the recommendation as set out in the report. This was duly seconded and agreed

RESOLVED that having received the report on the Working Group’s initial assessment, the conclusions of the Working Group be included as part of the proposed Leisure Contract Post-Implementation Review.