Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 April 2021 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and Officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the agenda items for the meeting:

Personal Interest

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee.

No urgent decisions were reported.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items 6, 7 and 8 which contain information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority), the disclosure of which would not be fair and would be in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, 7 & 8

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 prior to the commencement of the meeting at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a verbal report of the Chief Executive of Life Leisure.

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

The Chief Executive of Life Leisure updated the Committee on Post Reopening Trading.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members enquired about what happens to the Membership of those who wished to return to leisure centres but were wanting to wait a little longer to ensure that they minimised risk.  In response, Members were advised that Membership tended to be frozen for a three-month period.  Life Leisure were working hard to encourage people to return and show that leisure centres are a safe environment.

·         In response to a Member question about levels of activity, Members were advised that activity was in line with the industry standard and that a two-year recovery plan was in place.

·         A short discussion took place relating to swimming lessons as these formed a big part of leisure centre income.  There was a long waiting list and whilst currently working on a reduced capacity, income should be back to pre covid levels quite quickly.

·         Life Leisure were confident that they were ready for the likely increase in demand for facilities following the national and international sporting events that were taking place over the summer, including the Olympics.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a verbal report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Funding Committee is asked to note the report.

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive presented a verbal report which provided an update on the establishment of Stockport Active Community Interest Company (C.I.C) and progress towards transitioning leisure and active communities services into the new organisation.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         It was clarified that new banking arrangements needed to be set up, but everything else was in place.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an outline of the governance arrangements for Stockport Active CIC.

The Funding Committee is invited to note and comment on the report.

Officer contact: Paul Richards on Tel: 0161 474 2940 or by email on paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk 

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Funding Committee Members with an outline of the governance arrangements for Stockport Active CIC.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That no further dates for Funding Committee would be arranged at the current time.