Issue - meetings

Appendix A details the annual report from April 2025 – March 2026 from the council’s leisure facilities management contractor, Sports and Leisure Management (SLM). The annual report shares a reflection on the previous 12 months’ work and outlines the work programme for the coming year.

Recommendation

·        That the April 2025 – March 2026 annual report from Sports and Leisure Management is noted.

·        That public access to the report be immediate.

·        That public access to the decision be immediate.

The Leisure Assets Manager introduced herself and the Everyone Active colleagues; John Sewell, Contract Manager for Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) and Billy Johnston, General Manager for the South Oxhey Leisure Centre, and William Penn Leisure Centre.

John Sewell presented the report.

Members raised several questions, including the reason for the decrease in swimming lessons, figures comparing to the pre-Covid 19 period, and requested information on target membership and customer satisfaction evidence to be included in future reports – Action – Everyone Active Contract Manager for TRDC. Members also inquired about the financial performance of the leisure centres.

The Contract Manager responded by explaining that there are seasonal fluctuations in the numbers, however, the decrease in swimming lessons had been noticed by staff across the leisure centres. Promotions in the local community have been increased as well as working with the Council, utilising the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to provide free swimming lessons, totalling 30 free lessons to the local primary school children who receive free school meals. The leisure centres also worked with local primary and secondary schools, in the Adopt a School scheme, which provide free swimming to children and adults from a local school for a period of one month. In addition, there are also drowning prevention week and water safety within the school swimming lessons programme, and prices are still the best value for money within Hertfordshire. The Contract Manager advised that fitness memberships and swimming lessons have increased, noting that pre-Covid, the Sir James Altham swimming pool had been used, which is smaller, single tank pool, but numbers are getting back to pre-Covid figures. The Leisure Assets Manager added that free swim and free gym are also run during the easter and summer months for under 19’s, as part of the youth provision, which is funded by the Council.

The Contract Manager explained that a detailed feedback received from customers via the online portal, verbal logs at reception, and on the ‘You Said, We Did’ feedback boards, is provided to the Council on a monthly basis. 

Members inquired why some of the facilities failed to meet their targets and what corrective actions are being taken. The Contract Manager advised that the exact figures are not included in the annual report, but finances are monitored on a weekly basis and performance on a monthly basis. Financial performance is also reported to the Council on a monthly basis. The speaker referred to the Rickmansworth Golf Course in terms of underperformance, which was due to the separation of the irrigation system from Moor Park Golf Course with no water for a period of time. However, since the installation of the new irrigation system there has been a year on year increase in revenue. A detailed report on financial performance, where it isn’t commercially sensitive, to be provided to the Leisure Assets Manager and shared with committee members. – Action – Everyone Active Contract Manager for TRDC.

Councillor Mike Sims proposed a summary of the customer satisfaction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5