The Head of Community Services has submitted a report to recommend that Cabinet endorses Fusion Lifestyles 2019/20 Annual Service Plan for the continuous development, management and operation of leisure services in Oxford.

Recommendations:That  Cabinet resolves to:

1.         Note the national and local context of the leisure market;

2.         Note the overarching performance dashboard for 2018/19, as attached as Appendix 1; and

3.         Endorse the Fusion Lifestyle Annual Service Plan as recommended by   the   Leisure Partnership Board and attached as Appendix 2.

The Head of Community Services had submitted a report to recommend that the Cabinet endorse Fusion Lifestyles 2019/20 Annual Service Plan for the continuous development, management and operation of leisure services in Oxford.

The Active Communities Manager introduced the report. He reminded the Cabinet of the challenging environment in which Council based leisure services now operated, competing  with  budget and other commercial providers as well as people choosing to exercise outdoors, sometimes with the support of technology.  He was pleased to be able to highlight a number of very positive indicators such as an increase in the number of “active participation visits” by 25%; the positive outcome of an external audit to sense-check the quality of Fusion data; a 4% increase in active visits from target groups; all 5 of the Council’s Leisure Centres continuing to be accredited to the UK quality award scheme (Quest) ; Barton and Leys Pools and Leisure Centres moving from a ‘Good’ to a ‘Very Good ‘ rating; an 83 % customer satisfaction rating; active steps being taken to reduce the centres’ carbon footprint; and seeking stronger links with the Council’s corporate objectives.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Housing, Councillor Linda Smith, was pleased with these creditable indicators, particularly the 25% increase of visits and the steps to reduce the carbon footprint. She was also pleased to report on the success of the pilot crèche facility at the Ferry Leisure Centre, all of which provided a good foundation for the following year.

The ambition to reduce the carbon footprint was recognised as most welcome but it was suggested that the ambition on Fusion’s part might be greater. Carbon reduction now featured as a regular item in the monthly management meetings and a number of Salix projects were being considered.    The Council’s Active Communities team was to be congratulated for all it was doing and being the first Council in the country to achieve the Quest UK quality assurance standard at the highest level of ‘Outstanding’. The ambition to get more inactive people active was very welcome. New arrangements for  the local GP infrastructure  would include one Social Prescribing co-ordinator  in each area and it was confirmed that Fusion would liaise with them as appropriate, adding them to their list of stakeholders. The Oxford Sports Park would be open, with full community access, by September. 

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Note the national and local context of the leisure market;

2.    Note the overarching performance dashboard for 2018/19, as attached as Appendix 1; and

3.    Endorse the Fusion Lifestyle Annual Service Plan as recommended by the   Leisure Partnership Board and attached as Appendix 2.

At its meeting on 12 June 2019, the Cabinet will consider a report on the Fusion Lifestyle Annual Service Plan. This item provides an opportunity for the Committee to comment on the report and make recommendations to the Cabinet if it wishes.

Councillor Linda Smith, Board Member for Leisure and Housing, introduced the report and was pleased to be able to draw attention to a number of positive indicators: a 25% increase in active participation visits; a 35% increase in Member visits; and an increase in non-member visits. The data now included raw numbers as the Committee had requested. The Committee would be aware that an independent Audit of Fusion Lifestyle had confirmed that the data being provided were robust.

Both the Leys and Barton Leisure Centres were now rated as “Quest Plus – Very Good” (Quest being the leading UK quality award scheme for sport and leisure). A crèche was now running at the Leys and the first opening of one on a trial basis at the Ferry Centre had been the day before. Free swimming continued to be on offer for under 17 year olds, an initiative that the Council should be very proud of and all employees continued to be paid at least the Oxford Living Wage.

The Committee, while pleased to see these positive outcomes observed that a failure to address basic maintenance issues swiftly and effectively would always compromise Fusion Lifestyle’s ability to compete effectively with other providers.

In discussion Councillor Smith agreed that there was merit in seeking higher levels of engagement  from areas of deprivation and suggested that this  might form the basis of a recommendation to Cabinet and one which might be achieved, in part, by community events. She was also able to confirm the imminent rescheduling of swimming sessions for mothers with toddlers at the Leys at a more suitable time for them and that the possibility of introducing Steam Rooms was on a long list of possible future developments for Fusion.

The Committee was pleased to note that the City was seen to have one of the highest overall levels of activity in the Country. This was, in part, attributable to savings being invested back into provision and the contribution of the Council’s Active Communities team.

Given recent improvements it was questioned whether the target of a 3% increase in participation for a range of user groups was ambitious enough. It was explained that recent increases in attendance were partly accounted for by improved data capture.

The Committee resolved to recommend that the Council undertakes outreach work in the most deprived areas within the City to further encourage the use of local leisure facilities, and confirms that there will be a robust action plan for increasing participation in these communities. This, along with increasing BAME participation, should be considered a priority within the Fusion Lifestyle contract.