Agenda and minutes

The decisions from the meeting held on 1st October were agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendments at CO18 (4 & 5) to read as follows:

4) This was the first HRA BP to be prepared since the HRA became ‘self financing’ in April 2012; the net effect of the self-financing arrangement was beneficial to the Council with £8million being available to spend initially without recourse to re-financing of existing borrowing or utilization of further borrowing.

5) The HRA Business Plan made a commitment to maximise investment in new housing (up to £60million); using reserves, capital receipts and barrowing capacity whilst maintaining a financially robust long term financial plan.

None disclosed.

Report LA004 from the Head of Community Assets and the Team Leader Leisure and Amenities.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

Cabinet agrees to extend the current contract with Leisure in the Community (which expires on 3rd January 2016) for the management of Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Deepings Leisure Centres to 4th January 2021.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Joint report LA004 from the Head of Community Assets and the Team Leader Leisure and Amenities.

2)              The current contract for the provision of leisure management services had an option to extend for a further 5 year period to 2021.

3)              The Council’s leisure centres play an important role in the district by providing affordable leisure for residents and visitors, helping to deliver under the strategies covering Cultural and Clean, Green and Healthy and contributing to the economic growth agenda offering an affordable leisure offer that encourages relocation to the district.

4)              Options had been explored for the delivery of the leisure management function after 2016 with other leisure providers, industry experts and neighbouring authorities.

5)              The contract extension would have no impact on the contract specification and the Council would continue to monitor standards and service delivery including the issuing of rectification and performance notices.

6)              The contract extension does not depend on capital investment being made by the Council.

7)              The original contract for the provision of leisure management services was tendered in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.  It included the provision for an extension after 5 years from the commencement date of 3rd January 2011 for a further 5 years (to 4th January 2021) subject to the agreement of both the Council and Leisure in the Community.

8)              Comments made by the Portfolio Holder for Arts and Leisure relating to the management fees and charges (not public fees and charges) referred to in the report and  commending the report, recommendation and the hard work undertaken by the team.

9)              Comments made by other Members of the potential financial savings.

Other Options considered:

A shorter term extension was considered but this would carry less benefit to the Council.  Also the opportunity to carry out a procurement exercise was also reviewed in some detail but the option to extend for five years allows the Council to review its on-going provision of leisure facilities over the next few years before tying into a long term contract.

Gravity Fields

Although not an item on the agenda the Cabinet wished to place on record their thanks to all those involved with the Gravity Fields Festival including all the “festival makers” without whom the event would not have been such a great success.

Decision CO21 as made on 6th October 2014 can be implemented on Wednesday 15th October 2014, unless subject to call-in by the Scrutiny Committee Chairman or any five members of the Council from any political group.