Decision details

(i)  On an interim basis, for a period of up to eighteen months, to recommence leisure services and associated additional services from St. Mary’s Leisure Centre (SMLC) and to delegate authority to the Head of Supplier Management - following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Adults and Leisure, the Executive Director for Finance and Commercialism and the Service Director Legal and Governance – to enter into contractual and any associated arrangements with Active Nation UK Ltd (“AN”) or an alternative operator to give effect to this recommendation.

(ii)  To note that a General Fund revenue saving of £148,000 relating to the closure of SMLC will now not be achieved from 2022/23 onwards. To approve the reinstatement of the operational budgets of £148,000 in financial year 2022/23 and £100,000 in 2023/24.This will be funded from existing resources.

(iii)  Further General Fund revenue budgets of £30,000 in financial year 2022/23 and £20,000 in 2023/24 be allocated to the running costs for SMLC. This would be funded from existing resources.

The Council intends, subject to the approval of the recommendations of this report, to recommence - at the earliest possible opportunity - services from SMLC for the benefit of the community.

AN are the operating sub-contractor for the Council’s main leisure contract and are therefore best placed to mobilise and commence services within the Council’s preferred timescales.

To proceed with the Cabinet decisions of 21 February 2022, which included a decision to “permanently cease leisure services at SMLC and approve in principle the disposal of the site”. This option was rejected as it does not meet the Council’s objective of re-opening SMLC in order to provide a facility which offers leisure and other community services.

Undertake a competitive process to select an alternative operator or partner on a long-term basis and delay the commencement of services from SMLC until this operator or partner was appointed and could commence services. This option was rejected as the Council intends to work closely with the local community and other users and potential users of the facility before designing a proposed approach to the long-term future of the facility. The Council would, following the completion of this engagement, then undertake a formal twelve-week consultation process regarding the plans developed; this option would therefore not meet the objective of recommencing services from SMLC at the earliest possible opportunity.