Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 22 July 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 6 and 7 which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ agenda items 6 and 7 (see Minute 6 and 7 below)

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Executive, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a presentation by the Managing Director, Life Leisure.

The Managing Director and representatives of Life Leisure attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to the trusts work since it was established in 2001.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Sport Trust holds leases on Council operated leisure facilities with approximately 500 employees which operate through a board of voluntary trustees. Life Leisure is the trading name of Stockport Sports Trust.

·         As a registered charity, the aim of the organisation is to provide the best value service in the areas that the trust operated in.

·         Councillors heard how the facilities at Avondale, Houldsworth Village and Stockport Sports Village and received major investment resulting in significant change with a range of bespoke services. Notably, Avondale was a ‘Health Hub’ dedicated to rehabilitation and enabling members of the local community to take part in physical activity to improve their health and wellbeing.

·         Councillors further heard about the development of the Sentinel Programme and of the David Hopkins Foundation which considered applications from individuals and groups up to the value of £1000 for groups and £500 for individuals for the benefit of sports clubs and to make a difference to the provision of sport and physical activity.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and officers thanked for their presentation.

To consider a report of the Managing Director, Life Leisure.

The Funding Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Martin Harriman on email: martin.harriman@lifeleisure.net

The Managing Director, Life Leisure submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Committee with an update in respect to the current financial status of the trust including on-going risks and concerns, budgets for the past 3 years including an explanation for the 2016/2017 variances. The report outlined the current staffing structure of the company, how the company had responded to the opening of new budget gyms in efforts to retain and increase gym membership and opportunities currently being explored for the diversification of the business.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Councillors are requested to consider how frequently they wish for meetings of the Funding Committee to be held and when they would like to hold the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements for quarterly meetings of the Funding Committee with the next meeting being held in Avondale at the end of February 2017.