Agenda item

The Deputy Leader of the Council presented the report which provided an update on the contractual performance of Leisure SK Ltd during Q1 of the current financial year.

The performance requirements against the leisure management contract objectives were set out in the new agency agreement which commenced in April 2025.

In developing the suite of key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Council’s leisure contract, Officers undertook research with other local authorities across the Country and through the Association of Public Service Excellence to ensure they reflected current trends in the market as well as being fit for purpose for the Council.

Some of the KPIs had changed from the previous leisure management contract, which ended in March 2025. Therefore the data for Q1 shown in the appendix would form baseline data from which the future performance of the company would be measured against. It was not a measure of how the company was performing against each individual KPI currently.

Officers would continue to undertake regular monitoring visits to each of the centres and the sports stadium, raising any issues requiring rectification with the centre management team.

However, should the Council be responsible for the rectification, as per terms of the contract, this would be reported internally to the appropriate service area.

One Member raised a health and safety concern at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre where fire escape doors had been secured with chairs. 

It was confirmed the fire doors were not faulty and the chairs had been placed there to stop a rattling noise from the wind.

It was queried how maintenance and cleanliness problems were logged on an immediate basis. The Leisure, Parks, and Open Spaces Team Leader confirmed that timescales had been agreed with staff for rectification of any maintenance issues and any issues that would exceed these timescale are monitored between the Leisure, Parks, and Open Spaces Team and the LeisureSK Ltd Board. This is done in conjunction with SKDC’s internal processes for logging and rectifying maintenance issues.

The request was also made for overshoes to be provided to prevent mud from being paddled into the changing rooms. It was confirmed that a discussion could be had with LeisureSK Ltd on this matter, but the Leisure, Parks, and Open Spaces Team Leader did note the poor quality and detrimental environmental impact of the overshoes. The suggestion was made to remove excess mud from outdoor areas around the building.

It was agreed for a report on the findings of the maintenance surveys which was due to be considered by the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee and would be shared with the Committee at a future meeting.

Within appendix one of the report, it was noted that throughout the leisure centres, Grantham had the highest figures as this included footfall from events facilitated by the centre, in addition to gym users. 

The suggestion was made for health and safety monitoring and maintenance monitoring to be included in subsequent KPI reports. The Leisure, Parks, and Open Spaces Team Leader agreed to take this forward and provide context within the report but these would form part of the monitoring KPI’s which had been agreed between the Council and LeisureSK Ltd. .

The Committee noted the contents of the report

The Assistant Director of Leisure, Culture & Place commended the Leisure, Parks, and Open Spaces and Arts and Cultural Services Teams for their work and the quality of the reports produced.