Chichester District Council
Agenda item

Agenda item

Leisure Services Performance Review

The Committee is requested to receive the 2018-19 Annual Report from Everyone Active (Sport and Leisure Management Ltd).  To review the report and agree that the contractor is achieving satisfactory levels of performance against the outcomes in section 2.0 and the key performance indicators in section 4.0 of the 2018-2019 annual report.

 

Minutes:

Mrs Peyman presented the report.  Mr Mills, Everyone Active Contract Manager, was in attendance to answer questions.

 

Mrs Peyman reported that the Council continued to work closely with Everyone Active to ensure that the leisure needs of the community were being met.  Mr Mills outlined the successes during 2018-2019, which included the achievement of an excellent Quest Assessment at all three sites.  Westgate Leisure had also achieved outstanding in a Q Stretch assessment.

 

Officers answered members’ questions as follows:

 

·      Increasing the membership for the over 50 was something the centres were looking into. A review of over 50’s activities had been undertaken and changes made where necessary.  The centres were also looking at how activities should be marketed.  After quarter 1 this year membership had increased.

·      There were currently no plans to expand Bourne Leisure to include a community hub.  However, Mr Mills advised he would be happy to look into the possibility.  Although this centre was not at full capacity the sports hall was well used and Southbourne Community College had plans to development outside area, which it was hoped that the centre could utilise.  Mrs Peyman added that the Sports and Leisure Team were consulted on future leisure needs as part of the planning development process and discussions took place with the parishes and leisure providers.  Mrs Peyman undertook to liaise with Mrs Bangert about talking to Southbourne Parish Council about their needs.

·      With regard to the use of green renewable energy, Mr Mills undertook to find out who supplied the energy to the centres.  Mrs Peyman advised that the Westgate and Grange car parks were operated by the District Council.  The car park at the Bourne was jointly operated with Southbourne Community College.  Mrs Hotchkiss provided details of a grant received by the Council for the installation of electric charging points, of which the Grange.  Mr Mills undertook to contact the school to discuss the possibility of providing electric charging points at the Bourne centre car park.

·      Officers were aware of the difficulties experienced by some members when booking classes online, as spaces for some classes ran out quickly.  Reviews were undertaken and where possible the number of classes were adjusted to suit demand.

·      There was the opportunity for members of the public to be on the Westgate Leisure focus group. The Bourne and the Grange held meet the manager sessions.  He undertook to carry out promotion of the focus group.

·      With regard to apprentices and the living wage, and concerns raised that some were not able to pay for public transport to travel to work, Mr Mills advised that apprentices received a standard rate across the three leisure centres.  He undertook to look into any individual cases. 

·      Sussex Otters Swimming Club, that provided swimming facilities for disabled people, had discontinued about six months ago following a reduction in numbers, despite Westgate encouraging them to hire less pool space to reduce their costs.  The swimming pool was accessible to disabled users

·      Mrs Peyman explained that the repairs to the Westgate roof were a complex issue. Work was taking place with a number of contractors to come up with a solution and to assess if an external scaffolding tower was required.  The works were being undertaken to ensure it was safe and to reduce closures to the public.

·      With regard to initiatives to encourage people to walk and cycle, a month long month long competition was held, which entered anyone who cycled into a prize draw to win a free month’s membership.

·      With regard to pricing and the effect on membership and a comment made by a member that anecdotal evidence had suggested this was a reason for some memberships not being renewed, core prices could not increase more than the consumer prices index and were submitted to the Council for approval.

·      Mr Mills reported that memberships pricing promotions were centrally run throughout the year by head office.  This was a reduction on the top level and not increases to membership prices.

 

The committee thanked the officers for an excellent report and congratulated them on the wellbeing activities to encourage people to take up sporting and other leisure activities.

 

RESOLVED

 

1)    That the 2018-19 Annual report from Everyone Active be noted; and

2)    To endorse that the contractor is achieving satisfactory levels of performance against the outcomes in section 2.0 and the key performance indicators in section 4.0 of the 2018-19 annual report.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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