Agenda item

*O&S 28/23

The Senior Leisure Contracts Manager introduced the report and passed over to the Regional Manager for Fusion to give his presentation. During this he highlighted;

·         Nationally recovery rates from attendance since the Covid pandemic

were lower than before the pandemic, however Meadowlands and Parklands were doing slightly better that the national rate.

·         Accountancy period had changed to a 15 month year reporting to councils.

·         Children in Care Scheme developed in partnership with Fusion and the Council

·         Café launched in Meadowlands and Parklands to launch in February 2024

·         Wet and Wild swimming pool sessions returned to Meadowlands

·         Staff internally promoted into new management roles and enrolled on management training courses to ensure continuity

·         NPS scores – anything under an 8/10 is deemed a non-positive score. Changing rooms and facilities often score low across the leisure industry, however it does not make them complacent.

·         Swimming lessons were the quickest recovery group since covid with a growth of 160%.

·         Recruitment in leisure has been a struggle.

·         Sports and Community Development work with OCRA working with schools, the holiday programme and fitness festivals.

·         Pilot scheme with the PCN and Okehampton Medical Practice to provide a non-gym based class in the college.

·         Sporting Academy for talented athletes to access the centres free of charge.

·         Outreach to local communities to find out what is required.

·         Challenge with increase in National Minimal Wage.

·         Car parking fees seen as a deterrent by users.

A Member thanked the staff at both centres for being so positive and welcoming on the visits to the centres by members of the O&S Committee recently. They were impressed with the café at Meadowlands and felt it drew people into the centre. The Director of Customer Services and Delivery said the authority was successful on gaining some funding to decarbonise the leisure centres even further. This would fund the feasibility studies. Then a bid would be put in for further funding to carry out the work

Another Member commented on the need for Parklands to be painted internally and externally to make it more appealing to users. The signage to Parklands needed to be improved. The Manager of Meadowlands confirmed the dome and entrance canopy were to be cleaned during March. The Regional Manager stated there was a discussion to be had with the Council on car parking charges. Repairs on equipment was questioned by a Member as taking a long time. The Manager of Meadowlands stated that having changed suppliers to a more local firm the repairs were being completed much quicker. The Regional Manager would look into the slow response time from reception staff at Parklands. There would be closer working with health care providers to engage with those who could make use of the centres who currently are not. Looking to partners in communities to work with. Outreach officers would look to advertise in local newsletters

The Manager of Meadowlands stated that several schools were lost for swimming sessions when the centre closed for 4-5 weeks for repair work.He had managed to gain four of these schools back and was working on others. The Regional Manager explained that the programme of swimming teacher training, lifeguard training and front line staff training was in place so that when the services and programmes grow there are staff in place.

It was then RESOLVED that:

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the contents and progress of Fusion’s Annual Report for 2023 and proposals for 2024;

The Committee would review the pricing and timings of car parking fees at Meadowlands (Wharf Car Park).