| Item | Description | Background Information | Decision |
| | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None | |
| 20/01 | DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST | DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Burgin declared a discloseable interest as an employee of Ashfield District Council | |
| 20/02 | ADVANCE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC | ADVANCE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
There were no advance questions from members of the public | |
| 20/03 | ADVANCE QUESTIONS FROM NON-EXECUTIVE MEMBERS | ADVANCE QUESTIONS FROM NON-EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
Questions from Councillor Wallace to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure
1. In an area that suffers with significant health inequalities with low levels of physical activity, poor nutrition leading to high levels of obesity, higher than average alcohol and substance abuse and a lower than average life expectancy can you explain why you would even consider carrying out a feasibility study to off load the River Maun Centre and whether you think we have a duty of care for residents health and wellbeing?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure
The council’s responsibility for addressing the health and wellbeing needs of the local community would not diminish as consequence of a community asset transfer and there is no reason to suggest that a centre run through a different operating model would contribute any less to addressing local health inequalities. The community asset transfer of similar facilities has previously been successful in demographically comparable communities throughout the country.
Community asset transfer presents the opportunity for a community interest group or trust to operate the centre and deliver services that are more closely aligned to local community need and better equipped to adapt to changes in demand. In this regard, community asset transfer has the potential to contribute directly to the council’s strategic themes of wellbeing, aspiration and place.
2. Who would conduct the feasibility study and based on the evidence gathered who will make the final decision on the outcome and when will that be?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure
The feasibility study will be undertaken by the specialist consultant appointed to support council officers in the second phase of work. The decision on the outcome of the feasibility study will be taken by the portfolio holder for environment and leisure. The timeline for this decision is yet to be confirmed but it is anticipated that feasibility work will be completed in October 2020. A decision will therefore be taken soon after the completion of this work
3. If no Trust or Community group are identified as suitable to take over the running of River Maun Recreation Centre, can you confirm it will stay under the Council’s management?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure
The centre is currently managed by Serco as part of the council’s leisure management contract. If community asset transfer is not feasible, it is intended that the centre will be included within the tender specification for the procurement of a new leisure management contract. | |
| 20/04 | FUTURE LEISURE MANAGEMENT SERVICE DELIVERY OPTIONS | FUTURE LEISURE MANAGEMENT SERVICE DELIVERY OPTIONS
The Portfolio Holder was advised that the Council's existing leisure management contract ended on 31 April 2022 and required one year’s notice of the council’s intentions to end the contract rather than renegotiate and extend the contract. The report sought authority to explore the options available to the council for the future management of its leisure centres.
Report of Head of Health and Communities
Decision notice | RESOLVED -
(i) That the council continues to manage its leisure service through an outsourced operating model and undertakes the procurement of a new leisure management contract
(ii) That the council commences work on the feasiblity of a Community Asset Transfer for River Maun Recreation Centre
(iii) That the council commences work on identifying the opportunities for investment in carbon reduction, improved health and fitness facilities and family leisure water improvements with the aim of increasing the operational efficiency of existing facilities
(iv) That the council procures external consultancy and specialist legal advice to support the contract procurement exercise and Community Asset Transfer process as well as existing contractual negotiations with Serco. |