Issue - meetings

Appendix 1 to the report is in the exempt section of the agenda at Item 14.

Further to Minute 97 (16 February 2015), the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration presented a report on the latest proposals relating to the future of the Council’s leisure service. 

The Cabinet Member clarified that the Council had originally intended to transfer its leisure services into a locally established trust.  However, subsequent legislative changes meant that it was no longer possible to pursue that option and a further options appraisal was therefore commissioned to revisit and update the original study and assumptions.  That review had identified an alternative option of transferring the leisure services to an established not for profit provider, via a Service Concession contract, as the best approach to achieve the Council’s aspirations for the service going forward. 

The Cabinet Member advised that the contract would be for a 10-year term with a five-year extension option and the successful operator would be required to keep prices at affordable levels and to maintain concessions, unless otherwise agreed by the Council.  The contract would also include a five-year no fault break clause in order to give the Council appropriate safeguards and flexibility.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that she would provide her Cabinet colleagues with periodic updates on the progress of the proposals.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the procurement of an established operator to manage and operate the Council’s leisure services at Abbey Leisure Centre, Becontree Heath Leisure Centre and Jim Peters Stadium, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Rules and the strategy set out in the report;

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Service Development and Integration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, the Strategic Director of Finance and Investment and the Director of Law and Governance, to negotiate, award and enter into all contracts, agreements and any documents necessary to fully implement and effect the project; and

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Director of Law and Governance to execute all of the legal agreements, contracts, agreements and other documents on behalf of the Council.