Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels (Social and Economic Well-Being) on the findings of a Working Group into the financial performance of One Leisure.

Noted the initial findings of the One Leisure Working Group and requested the Executive Councillor for Organisational Development to undertake a review of the Council’s IT costs, to include the basis upon which the IT Network Service is re-charged to users.

A report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social and Economic Well-Being) was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which summarised the initial findings of the One Leisure Working Group established by the Panels to review the financial performance of One Leisure and to make recommendations on the services’ future strategic direction.

Members were advised that although the study was in its early stages, certain issues regarding the rising cost of IT network and helpdesk services had been highlighted as requiring further discussion.  Having acknowledged the various elements of the service provided by the IT division and its use in the day to day running of the leisure centres, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted and the Executive Councillor for Organisational Development be requested to undertake a review of the Council’s IT costs, to include the basis upon which the IT Network Service is re-charged to users.

To consider the interim findings of the Working Group.

With the assistance of a report by the One Leisure Finance Working Group (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel received an update on the deliberations of the Working Group, which had been established to review the performance of One Leisure and make recommendations on the service’s future strategic direction.

Members’ attention having been drawn to matters that the Group had addressed to-date, comment was made on the need for further information on the purpose of central recharges and the process through which the Council allocated them. It was agreed that a copy of a report on this subject, which had been considered by the Working Group, would be circulated to Members for information. The Head of Financial Services also undertook to liaise with interested Members on a one to one basis if required.

In response to a question from Councillor M F Shellens, the Panel were advised that the Group would consider the question of charging differential rates for non residents of the District once their other investigations had been completed. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Working Group's report be noted and their recommendation endorsed for submission to the Cabinet.

To consider the interim findings of the Working Group.

20 Minutes.

With the aid of a report by the One Leisure Finance Working Group (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was provided with an update on the progress of the Working Group’s review of the financial performance of One Leisure.

In considering the initial findings of the Working Group and having noted the benefits of looking at both social and economic aspects of the service, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the Working Group’s recommendation be submitted to the Cabinet.