Agenda item

To consider a report following a review by the Leisure Services Executive Advisory Panel, prior to report to Cabinet.

Please note that the appendix associated with this report is an exempt document.

The committee received and considered a report of the Service Manager for Leisure Services, following a review by an Executive Advisory Panel.

In presenting the report, the Service Manager for Leisure Services noted that since the report had been published, advice had been received from the council’s legal team that the contract for Blandford Leisure Centre could be extended until 31 December 2024.  In addition, there was a potential opportunity under Regulation 74 of the Public Contract Regulations, to vary the timescale further due to Local Government Reorganisation, to allow time for a more holistic approach moving forward and align the contract for Blandford Leisure Centre with the proposed contracts for Dorchester Sports Centre and Ferndown Leisure Centre.

The report set out that the Executive Advisory Panel had strongly supported the need for the leisure review to be considered alongside the council’s wider review of buildings and assets.  This would also include understanding maintenance issues and the link to climate issues.

It was noted that there was a desire to continue to extend contracts where possible in order to minimise the impact on customers and staff.

The Service Manager for Leisure Services suggested that the following wording be added to the end of both Recommendation 1 and 2, ‘…if Dorset Council are unable to secure an agreed contract extension.’  The position would be confirmed before the report was considered at Cabinet.

The Chairman highlighted that the appendix ‘Strategic Review of Leisure Centres report’ was an exempt document and therefore the committee would need to move into exempt business if they wanted to discuss anything included in the document.  He indicated that it was not his intention to move into exempt business.

The Chairman highlighted that the review had only looked at council owned leisure centres and he felt that this should have included all leisure centres in the Dorset Council area.  He also questioned whether the review should include a link to grants provided by the council to other leisure centres.

Following discussion, the following recommendation was agreed.

Recommendation to Cabinet

1.         That the operation of Blandford Leisure Centre be brought back in-house on 01.04.2022, if Dorset Council are unable to secure an agreed contract extension

2.         That a budget allocation for the one-off costs associated with bringing Blandford Leisure Centre back in-house be approved, if Dorset Council are unable to secure an agreed contract extension

3.         That officers are instructed to agree contract extensions for Ferndown Leisure Centre and Dorchester Sports Centre until 31.03.2025, with appropriate contract break clauses

4.         That leisure centres are established as a high priority in the buildings and assets review.

Reason for Recommendation:

The Executive Advisory Panel strongly supported the need for the leisure review to be considered alongside the council’s wider review of buildings and assets.

The panel considered that the continuation of funding maintenance and refurbishment works at some of the leisure centres may not be the most viable option and that the preferred  approach would ‘buy the council time’, and enable opportunities around the development of community hubs to be explored in detail.

The extension of the Ferndown Leisure Centre and Dorchester Sports Centre contracts to 31.03.2025 will minimise the impact on centre staff, customers and service provision.