Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director of Projects and Development attached.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure (Councillor Mick Titherington), the Assistant Director of Projects and Development (Neil Anderson), the Contracts Manager for South Ribble Community Leisure (Mark Snaylam) and the Chairman of the South Ribble Leisure Trust (Peter Dodd) presented a report on the Leisure Partnership to the Committee and responded to members’ comments and queries.

The Leisure Partnership is a collaboration between South Ribble Community Leisure Trust, SERCO and South Ribble Borough Council and has been in operation since 2005. It is responsible for the management of leisure centres in Leyland, Penwortham and Bamber Bridge and the South Ribble Tennis Centre.

Members were informed that the Partnership is governed by a board of trustees who are appointed following a selection process, on a need and skill basis.

The close working relationship between the Trust and the Council was acknowledged as they collaborate on projects such as the development of the Leisure Strategy. It was acknowledged that the development of a Leisure and Public Health Strategy, to include mental health, prevention and youth engagement, may be useful to take a more holistic, strategic and integrated approach with partners.

In response to a query regarding the Partnership’s vision for community leisure, members were informed that the Trust envisages South Ribble having a high proportion of active residents, a high number of residents able to swim and a reduction in the obesity rate in the borough. Importance was placed on residents being able to easily access provisions for leisure activities across South Ribble. 

Members queried the role of council staff in relation to the Partnership and were assured that there is a Lead Officer for Leisure and a Leisure and Projects Manager who are employees of the council but have responsibility for managing the contract with SERCO. Assurances were given that there is a full complement of staff with the capacity to maintain a good working relationship with the Partnership.

It was highlighted that the leisure contract would expire in 2021. A consultancy firm has been commissioned to identify options for the future management of leisure centres and a report on these findings would be presented to Cabinet in 2021.

The role of the Partnership in the development of the council’s Leisure Campus project was queried. The Partnership is responsible for the management of the leisure provisions and its role is to find the most efficient way to deliver leisure at a benefit to residents. Members felt that it would be useful for the Council to engage with the Leisure Trust on the Campus project in the future.   

The achievements of the Partnership were recognised and members requested further detail on the challenges facing the service. It was acknowledged that the leisure industry is a competitive market and that this had contributed to a decline in membership. Members were assured that, following significant investment in Leyland Leisure Centre and the Tennis Centre in 2017 and a review of membership rates, there had been a steady increase in customers.

The decentralisation of the GP referral scheme from Lancashire County Council to ABL Health had also posed a challenge to the Trust. Members were pleased to note that, as ABL Health’s contract would soon expire, the Partnership had been working with the council to consider whether they could collaborate on the scheme to provide residents with a locally-focussed approach to referrals and leisure.

In response to discussion around the environment and the council’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030, examples such as LED lighting, the Green Tick Award, movement sensors on lighting and a boiler efficiency of 92% were provided to demonstrate the measures taken by the leisure centres to increase sustainability.

A customer satisfaction survey was undertaken in April 2018 and members were informed that the results were similar to the previous survey undertaken. Further information on the results was requested.

As the expenditure has increased significantly at Leyland Leisure Centre over the last 4 years, members asked for clarification on these increased costs to be provided following the meeting.

In response to a query regarding the link between the Leisure Partnership and My Neighbourhood Forums, it was accepted that the Forums could help to deliver the Partnership’s agenda by advertising events to residents and organising leisure or sports events in their respective areas, in conjunction with the council’s Sports Development team.

Members queried whether SERCO is a living wage employer and requested further information on this.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That

1.    the council considers how best to engage with the Leisure Trust on the Campus project in the future.

2.    the Scrutiny Committee would like to consider the future options for the management of leisure facilities in the future.

3.    the Scrutiny Committee welcomes the performance of the Leisure Partnership and achievements included in the report.

4.    further information on the results of the leisure centre customer survey be provided to committee members.

5.    further information on the increased costs at Leyland Leisure Centre be provided to committee members.

6.    greater work between the Leisure Partnership and My Neighbourhood Forums be encouraged.

7.    the 2019 delivery plans have more quantifiable measures of success.

8.    the Council considers developing a Leisure and Public Health Strategy to take a more holistic, strategic and integrated approach with partners to include mental health, prevention and youth engagement.

9.    confirmation be provided to committee members that SERCO pays their employees the foundation living wage.