Decision details

It was proposed by Councillor Bateson and seconded by Councillor Gibson that Standing Order 38.2 be suspended to allow the continuation of the meeting behind the 3 hours.

Committee resolved to suspend Standing Order 38.2 to deal with the remaining items on the agenda.

The Committee considered a report from The Leisure Development Manager that sought to outline the process used to identify the preferred operator and to approve the report being brought before Council on 19 October 2023 for a final decision to be made.

The Committee asked that once the preferred operator had been confirmed they be invited in to speak to the Committee.

Concerns were raised about how the Council would ensure that the Operator would be monitored to ensure that the Passivhaus accreditation was not rescinded. The Committee was advised that this was an accreditation for the life-span of the Leisure Centre.

The Committee was advised that there would be a number of different memberships available for the public.

Concerns were raised by the Committee about the freelance instructors that were used by the current operator and whether they would continue to be used. The Committee were advised that it would be the preferred bidder’s decision as to whether the freelance instructors will continue to be used and what classes they would provide.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Note the full evaluation process to identify the preferred Operator (Bidder B) as the preferred Leisure Centre Operator,

2.    Approve the report going onto Council on 19 October 2023 who will then be asked to:

a)    Approve the Council entering into a management agreement (subject to the required standstill period) with Bidder B to manage Sunbury Leisure Centre and the new Spelthorne Leisure Centre on behalf of the Council for a period of 10 years from the opening of the new centre and with the option (at the sole discretion of the Council and subject to satisfactory performance) to extend the contract for a further period of 5 years; and

b)    Authorise the Group Head of Assets to agree terms in respect of any necessary leasehold arrangements with the Preferred Bidder in respect of the new Spelthorne Leisure Centre and Sunbury Lesure Centre and to authorise the Group Head Corporate Governance to enter into a contract with the Preferred Bidder.