Decision details

Review of the leisure service.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to the following recommendations that have been developed in response to the Covid-19 impact upon the leisure industry, our contractual arrangements with GLL and the financial impacts this has placed upon the Council.

(1)  Remove Chew Valley Leisure Centre from the GLL contract and hand back the lease to Chew Valley School at the end of this financial year (31st March 2021) and work with the Lighthouse School Partnership to provide an alternative solution to providing community use of the leisure facilities outside school hours.

(2)  Re-open the dry side facilities at Culverhay Leisure Centre. The future of the  swimming pool will be considered in more detail as numbers return to leisure centres and Covid 19 infection risk is reduced.

(3)  Request officers explore investment opportunities at Odd Down Sports Ground to turn this facility from a deficit to a profit.  A business case that demonstrates a clear return on investment well within the remaining life of the contract will be required for this to proceed.

In the light of the financial pressure Covid-19 has placed on the Council and GLL a review has been undertaken to seek to develop a more sustainable business model for the future.

The recommendations in this report are designed to balance the need for a sustainable financial model against the desire to provide leisure services that help to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population.

As per report.