Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group and accept it for consideration, with a view to the Executive Cabinet’s recommended response to the recommendations being reported to a future meeting.

Approval granted for the Executive Cabinet to conduct more detailed analysis to determine the financial feasibility of contracting out or bringing back in house the Council’s Leisure contract, by specifically focusing on:

·         Analysis and understanding of Active Nation central costs

·         Conducting a detailed active market financial appraisal

·         Determine actual anticipated impact of on-costs

·         Analysis of control and efficiencies to be gained by bringing in-house in comparison with a contracted out model.

Upon completion, this information will inform the decision required in readiness for the formal contract review period commencing in 2018.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group, Councillor Alistair Morwood, presented the report.

The Task Group had agreed that the existing management contract was no longer fit for purpose and for the Council to realise its ambition to maximise its early intervention/prevention agenda, changes to managerial arrangements needed to be made.

The Task Group had considered five options and discussed the pros and cons for each. Options 3 and five were favoured; however members felt that a more detailed exercise needed to be undertaken before a decision was taken.

Councillor Morwood thanked the members of the Task Group and officers involved with the inquiry.

Decision: Approval granted for the Executive Cabinet to conduct more detailed analysis to determine the financial feasibility of contracting out or bringing back in house the Council’s Leisure contract, by specifically focusing on:

·         Analysis and understanding of Active Nation central costs

·         Conducting a detailed active market financial appraisal

·         Determine actual anticipated impact of on-costs

·         Analysis of control and efficiencies to be gained by bringing in-house in comparison with a contracted out model.

Upon completion, this information will inform the decision required in readiness for the formal contract review period commencing in 2018.