Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides an update on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who will retain the trading name Life Leisure.

The report provides updates on how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work will be monitored by the Council in future, how they will be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which will be in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

The report provides an indication of the level of management fee which is likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to their trading performance.

(NOTE: The report contains a confidential appendix that has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the approach proposed above and is recommended:-

(a)       To note the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who will retain the trading name Life Leisure.

(b)       To note the arrangements for how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work will be monitored by the Council in future, how their will be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which will in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

(c)       To note the indicative level of management fee which is likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to their trading performance.

Officer contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Development & Regeneration submitted a report (copes of which had been circulated) providing an update on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who would retain the trading name Life Leisure.

The report provided updates on how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work would be monitored by the Council in future, how they would be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which would be in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

The report provided an indication of the level of management fee which was likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to its trading performance.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

(NOTE: The report contained a confidential appendix that has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was pleasing to see the progress on the transition to the new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes.

·         The Scrutiny Committee had previously recommended that there should be an independent director on the Board of Stockport Active CIC and Members were given assurances that this was still the intention. Members requested an update on this issue next time a report on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and the delivery of active communities programmes was considered by the Scrutiny Committee.

·         Members expressed concern about the number of Scrutiny Committees who would still need to consider reports under the proposed monitoring and reporting arrangement for Life Leisure, and the associated costs in terms of senior Officer time. It was requested that other possibilities be considered, for example submitting the report to fewer Scrutiny Committees or submitting an overarching report to this Scrutiny Committee and a tailored report to other Scrutiny Committees.

·          It was felt that financial reports should be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee on a more regular basis than proposed, for example quarterly reports with regard to expenditure against budget and that the Board of Stockport Active CIC be requested to produce half yearly accounts.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides an update on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who will retain the trading name Life Leisure.

The report provides updates on how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work will be monitored by the Council in future, how they will be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which will be in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

The report provides an indication of the level of management fee which is likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to their trading performance.

(NOTE: The report contains a confidential appendix that has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the approach proposed above and is recommended:-

(a)       To note the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who will retain the trading name Life Leisure.

(b)       To note the arrangements for how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work will be monitored by the Council in future, how their will be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which will in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

(c)       To note the indicative level of management fee which is likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to their trading performance.

Officer contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who would retain the trading name Life Leisure.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) also attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Work was continuing to identify funding sources for the replacement of leisure facilities in Marple.

·         Discussions were continuing with staff and informally with the trade unions with regard to the transfer of staff to the new Stockport Active CIC.

·         The intention was that the public should not notice any significant changes following the transfer of operations to the new Stockport Active CIC.

·         While there had been some changes to personnel at Life Leisure, there remained a large number of members of staff with the skills and knowledge of the business.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.