Issue - meetings

Report of Strategic Director Environment and Community

Summary

To consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review report and the recommendations arising from the report.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To endorse the overall conclusion of the review that the service is below average cost for the operation of its leisure centres, according to national benchmarking. It has good performance in terms of its sports development assessment, and is high quality in terms of good and improving levels of customer satisfaction.

(2)               To agree that improvements in value for money be sought and approve the following recommendations;

a.      Further grants to village halls be withdrawn from 2011/12, saving £39,000 per annum

b.      Reductions be made in the service establishment through reduced hours and the deletion of a vacant project officer post, saving £56,817 per annum

c.      Additional savings of £33,077 be progressed through reductions to the Leisure Development and Sports Development budgets, as set out in paragraph 2.11

(3)               To note that the target savings of £80,000 from the joint use agreements at Coopers School and North Oxfordshire Academy are currently part of the Council’s  scrutiny activities and subject to negotiation with the management of the two education sites;

(4)               To agree to progress negotiations with the sports centres contract operator to achieve savings through changes to the contract specification and through income benchmarking.

(5)               To request a capital bid as part of 2011/12 budget setting for electricity generation at leisure centres outlining its costs and likely savings.

Approved

The Strategic Director Environment and Community submitted a report to consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review of Recreation and Sport report and the recommendations arising from the report.

Resolved

(1)               That the overall conclusion of the review that the service is below average cost for the operation of its leisure centres, according to national benchmarking, has good performance in terms of its sports development assessment, and is high quality in terms of good and improving levels of customer satisfaction be endorsed.

(2)               That it be agreed improvements in value for money be sought and the following approved;

a.      Further grants to village halls be withdrawn from 2011/12, saving £39,000 per annum

b.      Reductions be made in the service establishment through reduced hours and the deletion of a vacant project officer post, saving £56,817 per annum

c.      Additional savings of £33,077 be progressed through reductions to the Leisure Development and Sports Development budgets,

(3)               That it be noted the target savings of £80,000 from the joint use agreements at Coopers School and North Oxfordshire Academy are currently part of the Council’s scrutiny activities and subject to negotiation with the management of the two education sites.

(4)               That it be agreed to progress negotiations with the sports centres contract operator to achieve savings through changes to the contract specification and through income benchmarking.

(5)               That a capital bid be requested as part of 2011/12 budget setting for electricity generation at leisure centres outlining its costs and likely savings.

Reasons

This review forms part of the Value for Money programme of reviews for 2010/11, which aims to cover all services within the council and improve the value of services offered to residents of Cherwell.

Options

The report contains options for achieving efficiency and value for money.