Issue - meetings

To approve that a medium term financial support arrangement be agreed with the council’s leisure management contractor.

It was not possible to circulate this report five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept this item as urgent to enable Sports and Leisure Management (SLM) to prepare in advance for the reintroduction of the council’s leisure services, as soon as thegovernment closure order is lifted, resulting in restored services for residents to access. Failure to re-open the leisure centre alongside competitors would result in SLM and the council losing market share to competitors.

RESOLVED:

Decisions of the Cabinet

1.  That a medium term financial support arrangement be agreed with the council’s leisure management contractor, Sports and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM), by contract variation, in order for the leisure centres to re open as soon as possible (subject to government restrictions being lifted) and to continue to operate until at least March 2021 whilst the council considers its options.

2.  That it be noted that officers are in the process ofa full review and evaluation of the options for the future management of the council’s leisure centres in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and officers will report on the results of the evaluation to cabinet in September.

3.  That it be noted that this report constitutes a Gateway 0 report in respect of the proposed options review, and a Gateway 3 report in respect of the proposed contract variation, for the purposes of the council’s contract standing orders.

Decisions of  the Leader of the Council

4.  That final approval of the detail of the contract variation and medium term financial support arrangement be delegated to the strategic director of environment and leisure, in consultation with the strategic director of finance and governance, the deputy leader and cabinet member for culture, leisure, equalities and communities and the cabinet member for finance, performance and Brexit.

5.  That the strategic director of finance and governance be asked to note that resource provision will be required for the value of the contract variation, the development of the management options and also the implementation of any chosen option.