Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 April 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 April 2018 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.

The following interest was declared

Personal Interest

No urgent decisions were reported.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 6 which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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 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 Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted no later than 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 report of the Managing Director, Life Leisure.

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

Officer Contact: Malcolm McPhail on Tel: 0161 484 0900 or email: malcolm.mcphail@lifeleisure.net

The Managing Director, Life Leisure submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a number of issues relating to the organisation both historical, present day and looking to the future.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Stockport Sports Village had recently been recognised as being the number one facility of its kind in the whole of the United Kingdom.

·         The company currently operated 12 leisure facilities, 8 of which were council owned.

·         Houldsworth Village had been awarded Leisure Centre of the year (medium sized) in 2017.

·         The company had recently been appointed as preferred operator for Barrow Borough Council to manage its leisure provision.

·         Councillors discussed in detail the contract arrangements between the Council and the company and asked for regular updates over the course of the municipal year.

·         The immediate success of the newly built leisure centre in Brinnington.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to National No Domestic rates and the decision made in 2012.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

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

Officer Contact: Kate Egdell on Tel: 0161 484 0900 or email: kate.egdell@lifeleisure.net

The Finance Director, Life Leisure submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the finance and performance of the company up to June 2018.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Income generated through swimming had declined but Health and Fitness had increased.

·         Refurbishments and spending on repairs and maintenance.

·         The reduction in the management fee and discussion held between the company and council officers on a utilities project.

·         The impact of the closure of Marple Pool. The Committee heard that ward councillors would receive a briefing later in the week on future plans following which a press statement would be issued.

·         The impact of recently opened budget gyms on the business.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance and Borough Treasurer be requested to write to members of the Committee explaining the decision made by officers in respect to the utilities project referred to in the report.