Issue - meetings

To provide the Panel with an update on leisure provision (report of the Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture enclosed.)

Also attending for this item will be:

·         Parkwood, the current leisure provider, to provide the Panel with an update on performance; and

·         Max Associates, to provide the Panel with identified leisure priorities within the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (S&ELCP)

Members will have the opportunity to ask questions. Should any questions relate to exempt information the Panel will need to resolve to go into closed session after all open issues have been dealt with.

The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture provided the Panel with an update report on leisure provision performance and the development of the future options and opportunities for leisure provision in South Holland.  The update included presentations from Parkwood Leisure (the current leisure provider), and leisure consultants, Max Associates.

The Regional Director and Area Manager of Parkwood Leisure delivered a presentation to the Panel which outlined the main achievements and challenges the company had experienced since the contract had been awarded in 2019, and their future plans for the sites. The key points included:

• contract handover and site investment, which incorporated:

• • brand refresh;
  • investment in a new Spin Studio;
  • upgrade of cardiovascular gym equipment;
  • sensory pool; and
  • deep cleaning of swimming pool changing rooms and staff training;
• the impact of Covid 19 lockdowns on staffing and facility usage;
• the Covid 19 recovery phase which had concentrated on increasing customer confidence and usage;
• membership trajectories: swimming memberships had performed particularly well since July 2021 and were now above pre-Covid levels.
• national trend challenges: inflation, utilities and workforce;
• opportunities for energy and carbon reduction;
• marketing;
• proposals for 2022/2023 included:
  • the ‘reversible’ repurposing of the financially unsustainable bar and café areas at the Spalding site, to a ‘wellness area’
  • flexibility on programming and pricing;
  • Bowls Club provision;
  • investment of gym equipment at both Spalding and Long Sutton sites;
  • increased virtual classes; and
  • Holiday and Activities Food Programme.

The Panel considered the presentation and made the following comments:

• Members asked which methods of marketing had been employed.
  • The Parkwood representative responded that costs had been considered when the marketing strategy had been planned. Most of the activity had taken place online, including social media, however leaflets had also been produced which were distributed to council offices and libraries. The intention was to widen distribution and activity throughout the district.

·         Members asked whether inflationary rises would be passed on to customers and if so, had an impact on memberships been anticipated.

• Members asked whether the leisure facilities had sufficient staff to ensure all aspects of the contract could be delivered. Facilities had been closed at short notice and customers had not been advised.

o   Parkwood confirmed that they had increased the employee complement since taking over the contract and that both facilities were fully staffed. Sufficient staff were required to be in place to adhere to health and safety responsibilities and for the facility to remain open. Short notice closures were unfortunate but had occurred due to employee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38