Agenda item

Representatives from Fusion Leisure conducted a presentation that outlined their cashless project proposals that were to come into effect on 1 October 2019.  During their presentation, the representatives expressed their apologies to Members for the late notification and poor communication strategy that had prompted this agenda item.

In the ensuing debate, reference was made to:

(a)  the shift towards cashless.  In acknowledging the changing spending habits of consumers, some Members cited their own examples of the shift away from purchasing with cash;

(b)  the detrimental impact on some of the most vulnerable groups in the District.  Whilst acknowledging that Fusion was implementing a number of measures to mitigate the impact of the project, some Members did still wish to make the point that there would still be a detrimental impact particularly on some of the most vulnerable groups;

(c)  adopting a pragmatic approach.  Fusion representatives emphasised that their core business principles were to ensure that people were active and to increase custom and, as a consequence, they would be adopting a pragmatic approach during the project roll out phase;

(d)  the Communication Strategy that had underpinned this project.  A Member stated that his primary concern had related to the lack of advanced communication with Members.  In stressing the importance of the Council and Fusion working closely together, it was felt that Members should have been in receipt of a Briefing Note that they could have used to respond to concerns that were being raised by their constituents;

(e)  clear messaging on the website and social media.  Fusion representatives recognised that the South Hams was a tourist area and it was therefore vitally important that this project was clearly communicated on their website and social media pages;

(f)   the fraud related risks.  The representatives highlighted the extent of the challenges that the business was facing from fraud and advised that they were taking every possible step to keep these risks to a minimum;

(g)  consultation with town councils.  The representatives confirmed that they would be happy to attend town council meetings to provide a presentation on the cashless project before the formal ‘go live’ date of 1 October 2019;

(h)  the management of the reception areas.  Whilst there were currently no plans to reduce the staffing levels in the centre reception areas, it was confirmed that the management of these areas would be reviewed in the upcoming months;

(i)    the establishment of a Task and Finish Group.  The Panel endorsed the suggestion to establish a Task and Finish Group to undertake a review of the relationship between Fusion and our local communities.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That a Task and Finish Group (comprising of Cllrs Smerdon (Chairman), Austen, O’Callaghan, Reeve and Sweett) be established to undertake a review of the relationship between Fusion and our local communities, with a concluding report being presented to the Panel meeting on the afternoon of 23 January 2020, before Fusion representatives then present their annual report to the next Panel meeting on 27 February 2020.

Also, in reviewing the relationship, the Task and Finish Group should visit all four Leisure Centres in the District and the concluding report should include reference to the delivery of Fusion’s key objectives and consequent outcomes.