Agenda, decisions and minutes

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor Dominic Boeck declared an interest in Agenda Item 3 by virtue of the fact that he was a member of Kennet Leisure Centre in Thatcham, but reported that, as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillors Owen Jeffery and Steve Masters declared an interest in Agenda Item 3 by virtue of the fact that they were members of Kennet Leisure Centre in Thatcham, but reported that, as their interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate.

Councillor Lee Dillon declared an interest in Agenda Item 3 by virtue of the fact that he was a substitute on the Henwick Worthy Joint Management Committee, but reported that, as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate.

(CSP: PC1 & PC2)

Purpose:  To implement the contractual requirement for an annual price review for 2020 for the leisure contractor to come into effect on 1^st January 2020.

Resolved that the proposed increase in fees and charges, as outlined in Appendix D, be approved for the leisure management contract.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      a delay in implementing the decision could compromise the Council's position.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 3) which sought approval to implement the contractual requirement for an annual price review for 2020 for the leisure contractor to come into effect on 1 January 2020.

Councillor Rick Jones presented the annual report. The contract with the leisure provider included an annual review and the proposal was for an average price increase of 2.6% which was less than the rate of inflation. It was also slightly lower than the benchmark level. There was high service user satisfaction of leisure services.

Councillor Adrian Abbs was concerned at some of the price increases which exceeded the rate of inflation (three times the rate of inflation in some cases). He felt that residents were being penalised, with less of an impact on non-Council residents.

Councillor Jones did not accept that residents were being penalised. He offered to address the point on inflationary rises in writing.

Councillor Lee Dillon queried whether, in light of the above, there was the potential to defer this decision. Sarah Clarke (Monitoring Officer) advised that it could not be deferred as it was a contractual requirement to determine the annual price review by the end of December 2019. Councillor Dillon questioned therefore why the decision had been left this late.

Councillor Hilary Cole made the point that Members had received the paperwork in advance of the meeting and this point could have been questioned/clarified ahead of the meeting.

Councillor Lynne Doherty noted the points raised by Councillor Abbs. She did however clarify that the prices for West Berkshire residents were lower than the prices for non-West Berkshire residents in all cases.

RESOLVED that the proposed increase in fees and charges, as outlined in Appendix D, be approved for the leisure management contract.

Other options considered:

·         The Fees and Charges for the Leisure Centres are set by the leisure contractor, the proposals outlined are those which have been presented by Legacy Leisure for the maximum fees for identified Core Activity, as part of their business plan for the West Berkshire Contract for 2020.

·         Consideration is given both to achieving standard tariffs across all centres and to the level of fees and charges set by local competitors in the industry and nearby Local Authority facilities in neighbouring districts and boroughs.