Agenda item

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 feedback to be included in the Everyone Active reports in future. – Action – Everyone Active Contract Manager for TRDC. The Leisure Assets Manager confirmed that Leisure Officers meet with Everyone Active colleagues on a monthly and quarterly basis to review customer satisfaction feedback and will make sure to include the summary in reports moving forward. The speaker also responded to a question regarding the junior usage of the golf course, clarifying that it has increased on a year on year basis, approximately 75% in the last two years. The junior usage across the facility is what has declined slightly, due to the ‘Happy and Fed’ holiday programme.

Members raised concerns about overgrown vegetation near the car park at William Penn Leisure Centre, which was causing customers to park in unsafe conditions and creating a risk to pedestrians. The Leisure Assets Manager advised that, if the area referred to by Members falls outside the leisure contract, officers would review the matter and discuss it with Members. The officer further explained that the area belongs to the neighbouring property adjacent to the leisure centre and that there had been previous communication with the owner about the site.

The officer also advised that the Council’s Regulatory Services have done a public consultation on the implementation of yellow lines for the car park that may be shared with members. – Action – TRDC Leisure Officers.

In response to a question about whether free summer camps at the leisure centres were available to all children, rather than only those with SEND, the officer clarified that the free summer camp schemes are aimed at specific target groups and funded by the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership. The Head of Leisure & Natural Infrastructure also mentioned the Council-run Accessible Childcare for Everyone (ACE) which offers discounts on easter, summer and half-term holidays to families working with professionals or in receipt of financial support.

Members inquired about any major health and safety incidents in the recent period. The Contract Manager responded that there has been a major incident at the South Oxhey Leisure Centre, and they are currently working with the Environment Health Team to formulate an investigation on the incident.

Members expressed enthusiasm about the social value element included in the report, and requested further information to be provided later on in the year on the GP referral scheme and Community Health & Wellbeing Programmes. – Action – Everyone Active Contract Manager for TRDC.

Responding to questions regarding the golf pods and summer camps in South Oxhey, the Contract Manager advised that installation of the golf pods will commence on 13 July, and confirmed that the summer camps in South Oxhey are going ahead.

Councillor Andrea Fraser proposed that an interim report on membership targets be provided to the committee and stressed that any major incidents should also be included. The Leisure Assets Manager advised that officers would discuss this with Everyone Active, as an interim report is not part of the leisure contract, and report back to committee members. – Action – TRDC Leisure Assets Manager.

The officer responded to a final question on recreational cricket in South Oxhey and Carpenders park, advising that recreational cricket is not covered by the leisure contract.

Councillor Chris Lloyd moved the recommendation as set out in the report. On being put to the committee, the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being by general assent.

RESOLVED:

• 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.