To consider an internal audit report about the performance of Fusion Lifestyle. The report includes a view about the integrity of the data reported by Fusion Lifestyle to the Council, a line of enquiry which followed a recommendation made by the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Bely Summers arrived at the start of this item.

The Committee considered the internal audit report about the performance of Fusion Lifestyle which included a review of the integrity of the data reported by Fusion Lifestyle to the Council, a line of enquiry which followed a recommendation made by the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Smith, Deputy Leader of the Council; Hagan Lewisman, Active Communities Manager; and Mark Munday and Graham Ashby from Fusion Lifestyle spoke about the audit findings and actions taken, and answered questions from the committee.

The Committee noted that the audit report had made favourable conclusions about the reliability of the participation data provided for 2018/19. The data was “as robust and should be expected,” and data capture was undertaken in accordance with national standards. No recommendations in this area were made by the Auditor.

A comprehensive continuous improvement plan had been in place for some time, and was now about 90% complete. Fusion had also made improvements based on an early draft of the internal audit recommendations, including improvements to their app and to managing social media comments and campaigns. Fusion confirmed they paid at least the Oxford Living Wage, and their contractors should also be paying at least the Oxford Living Wage.

Questions were raised over the validity of data presented in the previous year, which saw a significant drop in visitor attendance. A subsequent rise of 28% was recorded in the following year, bringing the visitor numbers back to ‘normal’ levels expected for 2018/19. It was confirmed that the audit methodology only considered current data, and was not retrospectively applied to previous years. The Committee heard that much of the fluctuation in data was associated with swings in seasonality trends particularly at Hinksey Pool and the Ice Rink.

The Committee discussed how repairs were responded to, and how this was communicated to customers. Fusion provided detailed responses where appropriate, but some councillors commented that they considered responsiveness to repairs needed to improve, based on feedback from residents.

The Committee noted the arrangements for user group meetings and new less formal ‘meet the manager’ sessions. Councillors asked that they be involved in reinvigorating the user groups where these were less well attended.

The Committee noted the arrangements for controlling admissions to gym facilities and for ensuring adequate oversight of the gym and its users. Fusion aimed to always operate with a fully adequate staff complement and officers received a monthly report on employee headcount and full-time equivalent numbers.

The Committee noted that Fusion carried out benchmarking using national survey and occasional comparisons were carried out with other leisure providers. It was difficult to make direct comparisons with private providers who offered a different range and quality of activities.

Councillors reiterated their wish for Fusion Lifestyle to better engage with schools and younger people, as set out in a recommendation made in June 2018. Attending the university fresher’s fairs was raised as another way to engage with young people. The Committee noted assurances that engagement with schools was widespread.

The Committee asked about progress in scheduling sessions for women-only and mother-and-child-only pool sessions in Blackbird Leys, also overseen and staffed by women, at appropriate times (eg to coincide with crèche opening hours). The Committee specifically wanted to see this accommodated in Blackbird Leys and agreed this was a priority that should be acted on as they were disappointed that suitable sessions were not yet scheduled.

The Committee agreed to formally review Fusion’s performance at 6 month interval, and that risks identified by the internal auditors should be reported as part of their review of the Annual Services Plan.

The Committee indicated that it may wish to carry out site visits to various leisure centres, including the new site at Horspath, in the new council year to gain a better understanding of the condition of the centres across the City.

The Committee agreed to make one recommendation to the City Executive Board:

1.  That further work is undertaken to accelerate the scheduling of time appropriate mother and child pool sessions in Blackbird Leys, and that a date is provided for when this will be done.