Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/SE/17/004

Portfolio Holder: Joanna Rayner      Lead Officer: Jill Korwin

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (21 February 2017)

That note be taken of the findings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in developing a new Partnership Agreement with Abbeycroft moving forward, in particular:

(1)     the need for full transparency in costs to the Council of providing leisure services;

(2)     the need for the agreement to focus on the outcomes for the health and wellbeing of communities; and

(3)     the approach to developing a Partnership Agreement with Abbeycroft for at least 10 years and alignment of leases will deliver value for money service for the Council.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/17/004, which presented the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to its review of the performance of Abbeycroft Leisure Ltd in St Edmundsbury.

Councillor Joanna Rayner, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including thanking the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its work in reviewing Abbeycroft’s past performance since the operation of the Council’s leisure services had been transferred in 2005.   The findings, as provided in the Committee’s recommendations,  would provide a significant contribution to informing the development of a new Partnership Agreement with Abbeycroft, which would be presented to Cabinet in spring 2017.

The Cabinet acknowledged the successes of Abbeycroft and recognised its provision of wide-ranging leisure facilities across the borough.  The Committee’s recommendations were supported with the view that they be formally noted by Council, as proposed.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That note be taken of the findings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in developing a new Partnership Agreement with Abbeycroft moving forward, in particular:

(1)    the need for full transparency in costs to the Council of providing leisure services;

(2)    the need for the agreement to focus on the outcomes for the health and wellbeing of communities; and

(3)    the approach to developing a Partnership Agreement with Abbeycroft for at least 10 years and alignment of leases will deliver value for money service for the Council.