Agenda item - Sports Facilties Contract

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That the Committee:

1)            Approves the development of a Sports Facilities Investment Plan for the council’s indoor sports facilities and paddling pools within the Sports Facilities Contract.

2)            Approves the development of an Options Appraisal informed by the Sports Facilities Investment Plan of the potential delivery models for the future management of the council’s indoor sports facilities and paddling pools

3)            Agrees that this work, including the Options Appraisal and completion of the Sports Facilities Investment Plan, be developed with the express aim to keep all 11 facilities open, and in order to review the potential delivery model for the future operation of all 11 facilities.

11.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out the proposed review of options for the future operation of seven indoor sports facilities (including three swimming pools and four paddling pools within the council’s Sports Facilities Contract. The current ten-year contract is due to expire on 31 March 2021.

11.2      Councillor Ebel moved a motion to amend recommendation 2.1 and 2.2 and insert recommendation 2.3 as shown below in bold italics

2.1     Approves the development of a Sports Facilities Investment Plan for the council’s indoor sports facilities and paddling pools within the Sports Facilities Contract.

2.2    Approves the development of an Options Appraisal informed by the Sports Facilities Investment Plan of the potential delivery models for the future management of the council’s indoor sports facilities and paddling pools

2.3    That this work, including the Options Appraisal and completion of the Sports Facilities Investment Plan, be developed with the express aim to keep all 11 facilities open, and in order to review the potential delivery model for the future operation of all 11 facilities.

11.3      Introducing the motion, Councillor Ebel explained that the report did not include the council’s outdoor facilities, including paddling pools that were important to keep open to increase wellbeing and reduce pressures upon the health care service in the long-term.

11.4      Councillor Druitt formally seconded the motion.

11.5      Relating to the discussion earlier in the meeting relating to the functions for sports facilities to be transferred to the TD&C Committee, Councillor Mears observed that many locations would not be included in the review. Furthermore, Saltdean Lido was not identified in the report.

11.6      The Head of Sport & Leisure explained that the scope of the report was the current Sports Facility contract and sites operated by Freedom Leisure, not all sport and leisure sites in the city. Furthermore, Saltdean Lido was not a site operated by Freedom Leisure.

11.7      Councillor Mears stated that such a review did not demonstrate joined up thinking by including all sports facilities and would have no wider vision of sport and recreation.

11.8      Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that a strong commitment was made to support those in low income to access council sport and leisure facilities and requested assurance that similar measures was being sought in any new arrangement.

11.9      The Head of Sport & Leisure replied that the introduction of the leisure card had been very positive and continuation of that would certainly be part of the review of future operation.

11.10   Councillor Grimshaw stated that she fully supported the proposed motion as paddling pools were highly important for those on low incomes.

11.11   Councillor Nemeth noted that the report did not explicitly state that paddling pools were part of the tendering process and asked what was proposed in relation to this issue. Councillor Nemeth noted that the King Alfred may potentially be redeveloped and asked if there would be a break clause in the contract should that proceed. In addition, Councillor Nemeth noted that Freedom Leisure were a not for profit company with an emphasis on social value however, there may be other providers that operated better but missed out in the tender process because they didn’t meet that criteria.

11.12   The Head of Sport & Leisure answered that the term indoor was used as a focus to distinguish between facilities however, it was always intended that paddling pools would be part of the review and therefore, the proposed motion was helpful for clarity. In relation to the King Alfred, it was explained that the current contract had a break clause and with the new contract to begin in April 2021, there would hopefully be more clarity on the King Alfred site by that point. The Head of Sport & leisure supplemented that the current contract followed the strict procurement process in 2011 however, he was uncertain as to whether social value was within the assessment criteria at that point.

11.13   Councillor Druitt asked what the implication of a no deal Brexit would be for the King Alfred site.

11.14   The Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture stated that was uncertainty about the impact of a no deal Brexit however, officers were in positive dialogue with Crest Nicholson and if a positive outcome could be realised, that would be brought to the committee at the earliest opportunity.

11.15   Councillor Druitt stated that he was very keen to see an options appraisal that explored the issue of bringing the service in-house as had been undertaken by Islington recently.

11.16   The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

11.17   The Chair put the recommendations, as amended, to the vote that passed.

11.18   RESOLVED- That the Committee:

1)            Approves the development of a Sports Facilities Investment Plan for the council’s indoor sports facilities and paddling pools within the Sports Facilities Contract.

2)            Approves the development of an Options Appraisal informed by the Sports Facilities Investment Plan of the potential delivery models for the future management of the council’s indoor sports facilities and paddling pools

3)            Agrees that this work, including the Options Appraisal and completion of the Sports Facilities Investment Plan, be developed with the express aim to keep all 11 facilities open, and in order to review the potential delivery model for the future operation of all 11 facilities.