Report no: 95/2020

(Key decision)

Cabinet authorised the Director for Places and the Director for Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Portfolio for Finance and the Cabinet Member with Portfolio for Culture & Leisure, to agree financial support to the Council’s leisure operator (Stevenage Leisure Ltd) of £269,021 (£168,191 in 2020/21 and £100,830 in 2021/22) in light of the Covid-19 impact.

Councillor Stephenson, as the relevant Cabinet Member, explained that owing to the pandemic, Catmose Sports facility had lost a lot of revenue. It was reported that Leisure centres were used by a significant proportion of the County’s population and was very much valued by residents; the health and morale element being undisputed. SSL had not been eligible for any Government support and as such, it was considered that agreeing a package of financial support would enable an extension to be implemented, allowing for the timely procurement of a successor contract.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Finance commented that the contract with SSL had been cost neutral to the Council and there was a duty to provide some services but noted that due to the predicted significant deficit, there was a need to keep the contract under review.

RESOLVED:

That the Director for Places and the Director for Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Portfolio for Finance and the Cabinet Member with Portfolio for Culture & Leisure, be authorised to agree financial support to the Council’s leisure operator (Stevenage Leisure Ltd) of £269,021 (£168,191 in 2020/21 and £100,830 in 2021/22) in light of the Covid-19 impact.