Agenda item

To provide members with an update on the South Holland Centre (report of the Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture which provided members with an update on the South Holland Centre.

The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture introduced the item which provided an update on Q1 and Q2 2024/2025 activities of the South Holland Centre and included the following:

• Background to the report. The last South Holland Centre Task Group update had been received by members at a meeting of the Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel held on 18 April 2024;
• Summary of the financial position;
• Programme performance;
• Assets and Health and Safety update;
• Development of the offer and strategic planning; and
• A marketing update at Appendix A.

Members considered the update and made the following comments:

• Members noted that the income for Q2 was over half of the projected budget and queried whether an excess for the year was anticipated.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that the figure included sales for events scheduled to take place within both the current and the following financial year. The figures would be distinguished at the end of the current financial year.

• Members referred to the previous question/response and restated their request that the receipt of information normally expected within a Business Plan would be helpful in order to understand and monitor performance of the South Holland Centre, specifically a prediction of the financial year-end position and its comparison with historical financial figures. As financial performance was currently monitored in arrears, this did not enable the identification of trends or timely mitigations to be implemented, if needed. In addition, some of the financial information stated within the report, such as the 2024/25 budget for ‘employees indirect expenses of minus £9,800’ did not appear to be meaningfully presented.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded:
    • That the service operated within the council’s financial procedure rules and the figures were presented and managed accordingly;
    • That income received for events taking place in the following financial year would be shown separately in the year-end accounts and taken forward to the next financial year as part of the budget setting process;
    • That a breakdown and explanation of the employees indirect expenses would be obtained and circulated after the meeting; and
    • That the Section 151 Officer had requested that future reports to members clarified the direct costs of the South Holland Centre against indirect costs/recharges and thereby presenting a clearer picture of controllable costs.
  • In response, whilst Members acknowledged that the South Holland Centre operated within the ‘constraints’ of the local authority accounting process, they reiterated their request that the presented figures needed to inform members of the day-to-day running costs of the South Holland Centre and include a prediction of the current year performance;
  • Whilst the report was encouraging in part, concerns were expressed regarding performance trends in some areas. Members sought assurance that monitoring processes were in place which identified performance issues/trends early, thereby enabling the timely implementation of mitigations where necessary.  More information needed to be made available so that assessments and predictions could be made.
  • Greater clarity of the financial position/budget of the South Holland Centre was sought, and in this regard, members requested that the full budget be made available;
  • In addition, members proposed that the Section 151 Officer attend the next meeting to explain the full budget. The proposal was carried.

• Members acknowledged the financial pressures faced by the council over the coming years and stated that whilst the South Holland Centre would continue to require financial support, input from panels could be beneficial and assist with solutions. It was therefore essential that the requested full and frank presentation of the financial facts was given to members in order to assist in this regard.

• Members queried whether customer feedback was sought/received from audiences who booked online and suggested that post-show surveys be circulated via email. 
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that:
    • Feedback was received through Facebook;
    • A Communications apprentice was working pro-actively with the South Holland Centre in respect of social media activity;
    • Social media analytics tools were utilised;
    • Examples of commentary could be provided within the next report; and
    • Feedback was encouraged at the time of visit however post-show surveys could be explored.

• Members had expressed concern for people who wished to book tickets in person. It was not clear when the building/box office was open.

• Members stated that the South Holland Centre should remain a focus and that Spalding town centre footfall would be seriously impacted if the venue closed.

• Members queried whether potential external operators would be provided with financial and performance information.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that information was provided on all facilities being marketed via a data room.

AGREED:

a)    That the contents of the report be noted; and

b)    That, as requested by members, the Section 151 Officer be invited to attend the next meeting of the Performance Monitoring Panel to explain the South Holland Centre budget.