Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Julie Ashley-Wren, Kamal Choudhury and Akin Elekolusi.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on Monday 9 September 2024

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 9 September 2024 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members are invited to consider a one-off update on the performance of the new Leisure contract after a full year of the leisure provider Everyone Active running the Council’s leisure facilities. The Committee to receive presentations from the Council’s Culture, Wellbeing and Leisure Services Manager and from Everyone Active.

The Chair welcomed the guest speakers to the meeting. Cllr Lorraine Rossati (Portfolio Holder - Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing), Ryan Ansell (Health and Sport Strategy Manager), Geoff Caine (Culture, Wellbeing and Leisure Services Manager), Alan Prescott (Everyone Active – Contract Manager) and Chris Williams (Everyone Active – Area Contract Manager).

The Portfolio Holder (Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing) introduced the discussion, expressing their appreciation for the progress achieved in the first year of Everyone Active's contract. The Committee heard that the contractor had exceeded initial expectations, particularly in terms of performance, adaptability, and collaborative spirit, which aligned with the Council's vision for a dynamic and transformative leisure partner.

The Portfolio Holder (Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing) highlighted Everyone Active’s expanded influence as a national entity managing various facilities in the region, including theatres such as Gordon Craig. This broader network enhanced their sustainability and booking capacity, bringing high-profile acts to the area. They praised the inclusive atmosphere of the Everyone Active gym, where people of all backgrounds and abilities felt welcomed.

The Portfolio Holder (Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing) acknowledged the considerable investments made by Everyone Active and the Council in upgrading local leisure facilities. They concluded by reinforcing the Council’s commitment to supporting leisure and wellbeing, emphasising the importance of promoting both physical and mental health in the community.

The Culture, Wellbeing, and Leisure Services Manager presented a comprehensive overview of the transformation in leisure services since the transition to the Everyone Active contract. The Committee heard of the origins of the prior leisure contract, which was established to address Council spending thresholds but offered limited contractual rigor and flexibility.

The Committee were advised that the renewal process for the contract involved extensive public consultations, a sports summit, and an in-depth appraisal to define the desired standards and expectations. The Council also instituted a Programme Board to oversee this process, which evaluated bids based on a balanced scorecard of finance, quality, and social value. This new focus on social value allowed the Council to assess the economic and community benefits provided by bidders, an aspect that was independently verified.

The Culture, Wellbeing, and Leisure Services Manager confirmed that after a thorough two-stage procurement process, Everyone Active emerged as the top bidder, while the previous contractor, SLL, was unsuccessful, ultimately going into liquidation after losing multiple contracts. The Culture, Wellbeing, and Leisure Services Manager highlighted that Everyone Active’s contract had significantly reduced Council expenditure, with savings driven by reductions in management fees and utilities costs. Furthermore, they praised the seamless transfer of services, including the addition of the Ridling’s Athletic Stadium and the “Active Communities” initiative, which aimed to engage residents outside of traditional leisure centres.

The Portfolio Holder (Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing) added that Everyone Active’s branding and marketing efforts had noticeably revitalised the facilities, attracting new members and creating an energetic and inclusive environment. The Culture, Wellbeing, and Leisure Services Manager concurred, noting a £1 million investment in facility upgrades, particularly in media displays, signage, and building repairs. They commended Everyone  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

There was none.

At this juncture the Chair addressed a longstanding issue of damp and mould in Council properties, emphasising the council's commitment to the issue and outlining plans for intensified action.

The Chair highlighted that the Committee has prioritised addressing damp and mould concerns for over a decade, preceding recent national interest. The committee has historically held the council to account to improve services and successfully secured a significant investment for the department handling these issues. She expressed satisfaction with prior progress reports on the matter.

The Chair informed Members that a recent case brought to their attention suggested potential ongoing issues, raising concerns that, if substantiated, would contradict the reported improvements. This had prompted the Chair to initiate an item for discussion at an upcoming committee meeting. The Chair encouraged members to investigate further cases of damp and mould within their wards to gather information that could support an impactful discussion at the next meeting.

The Chair emphasised the importance of members acting as advocates for residents, particularly when it came to uncovering any issues that may have been overlooked or concealed and stressed that the Committee’s role was to represent the community and act as a crucial channel for residents' concerns.

The Chair expressed frustration about changes in personnel within the Council, noting that this could hinder continuity in addressing long-term issues. The Chair concluded by highlighting the importance of consistency and accountability in the council’s response to damp and mould cases.

To consider the following motions:

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent

There was none.