Decision - Sports Facilities Contract Extension

RESOLVED: That the Tourism, Equalities and Communities and Culture Committee: 2.1 Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it agrees to exercise the option to extend the Sports Facilities Contract with Freedom Leisure by two years until 31st March 2026 and that it agrees the variation in the management fee set out in Part 2, subject to the recommendation at 2.2 below. 2.2 Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it grants delegated authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to agree changes to the management fee set out in Part 2, following consultation with the Leaders Group. That the Policy & Resources Committee: 2.3 Agrees to exercise the option to extend the Sports Facilities Contract with Freedom Leisure by two years until 31st March 2026 and agrees the variation to the management fee set out in Part 2, subject to the recommendation at 2.4 below, and with the proviso that the council's monitoring and quality assurance processes for the contract are strengthened, and that officers review the response time and actions from Freedom Leisure in addressing customer concerns and complaints regarding the quality of provision and service, and that those actions are effectively communicated to customers, including the status of repairs, expected delivery timescales, and mean-time solutions for issues that arise. 2.4 Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to agree changes to the management fee set out in Part 2, following consultation with the Leaders Group.

The committees approved a two-year extension of the Sports Facilities Contract with Freedom Leisure, until 31 March 2026. They also approved a variation to the management fee and delegated authority to agree future changes following consultation with the Leaders Group.