Setting up of wholly owned Council Trading Company for Leisure Centres
To receive and consider the report of the Director of Commercial.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington, presented the confidential report of the Director of Commercial which proposes the establishment of a wholly-owned Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) to manage the council’s leisure centres.
Members supported concessions being given to veterans using the facilities in the future and noted that the Council is opposed to zero hour contracts.
The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Karen Walton, thanked officers for the briefing on the report and expressed a wish to be involved as the Leisure company moves forwards.
Members debated the proposals and supported the aspirations to deliver excellent services to the residents of South Ribble.
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington proposed, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster seconded, to Resolve (unanimously)
1. That Council agrees to establish a wholly-owned Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) as set out in the attached full proposal, and delegates to the Director of Governance authority to finalise the arrangements for its creation.
2. Council appoints the Director of Finance, Director of Governance and Director of Commercial Services as Directors of the company when it is formed.
3. Council notes the financial model for the company and approves the creation of additional capacity at the Council in support services for the LATC as set out in the full proposal attached to this report.
4. Council approves the forecast management fee from the Council to the LATC
5. That Council agrees to a two-phase approach to setting up the new wholly owned LATC.
a. Priority being given to the setting up of the company and realising the NNDR and Tax benefits
b. Allowing the Council supported by the new Company the time to put in place a long-term service specification and staffing structure that will put the Leisure Centres at the heart of delivering the ambitions of the Council’s new Leisure Strategy and the aspirations of the wider corporate plan.