Issue - items at meetings - Portslade Sports Centre - Future Management Arrangements

Joint report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services and the Assistant Chief Executive (copy attached).

1)            That the Committee gives approval to undertake a procurement process to seek an external operator to manage Portslade Sports Centre.

2)            That the Committee grants delegated approval to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to

(i)            appoint an external operator on a six year management contract from 1^st April 2015 to be coterminous with the citywide Sports Facilities Contract

(ii)        grant an extension to the management contract for a period of up to five years should it be required in order to be coterminous with the citywide Sports Facilities Contract.

41.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Children’s Services in relation to Portslade Sports Centre – Future Management Arrangements. The report set out the options for the future management arrangements of Portslade Sports Centre following discussions with Portslade Aldridge Community Academy and the Aldridge Foundation.

41.2    Councillor Randall noted he hoped third sector providers could be considered.

41.3    In response to Councillor Hamilton the Sports Facilities Manager explained that the charges were currently comparable with the other sports facilities in the city and broadly in line. In terms of price protection there was a mechanism in the current contract for increases only in line with inflation; any greater increase would need to be agreed by the relevant Committee – which in this instance was the Economic Development & Culture Committee. It was Officers intention to use the same mechanism in this contract.

41.4    Councillors Robins noted his support for Option 3 in the report.

41.5    In response to Councillor Peltzer Dunn it was clarified that recommendation 2.2 in the report would allow for a ten year contract to be extended for an additional 5 years if the Council wished; this was the same provision in the existing sports facilities contracts.

41.6    The Chair then put the recommendation to the vote.

41.7    RESOLVED:

1)        That the Committee gives approval to undertake a procurement process to seek an external operator to manage Portslade Sports Centre.

2)        That the Committee grants delegated approval to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to:

(i)        Appoint an external operator on a six year management contract from 1 April 2015 to be coterminous with the citywide Sports Facilities Contract

(ii)     Grant an extension to the management contract for a period of up to five years should it be required in order to be coterminous with the citywide Sports Facilities Contract.