The Executive Director (Communities and People) and the Head of Financial Services have submitted a report to seek approval for a programme of improvements at the City Council’s leisure facilities.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.      Grant project approvalfor the Leisure Investment Programme at Appendix 1;

2.      Recommend to Council the approval of an additional capital budget of £1.04 million, above the £2million already agreed in the capital programme necessary to deliver the Leisure Investment Programme;

3.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for A Healthy Oxford; the Deputy Leader (Statutory) - Finance and Asset Management; the Head of Finance/Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance to agree the terms of the legal agreement with Serco Leisure (“More Leisure) to govern payment of the monies for the Leisure Investment Programme; and

4.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for A Healthy Oxford; the Deputy Leader (Statutory) - Finance and Asset Management and the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer to determine any additional opportunities to reinvest the funds if any monies remain following delivery of the Leisure Investment Programme, whilst ensuring no detrimental impact to the Council’s return on investment.

The Executive Director (Communities and People) and the Head of Financial Services had submitted a report to seek approval for a programme of improvements at the Council’s leisure facilities.

Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for A Healthy Oxford, reported that the transfer to the new leisure contract with Serco Leisure (‘More Leisure’) had now been successfully completed.  The report before Cabinet sought approval for an additional capital budget of £1.04 million, above the £2 million already agreed in the capital programme, in order to improve facilities across Ferry Leisure Centre, Leys Leisure Centre, Barton Leisure Centre and Hinksey Outdoor Pool.  These improvements would ensure that the Council’s facilities would remain sustainable and meet customer demand in the long term; would enable the aims of the contract to be met and a return on investment to be achieved; and would help to reduce health inequalities, for example by the provision of concessionary access.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Grant project approvalfor the Leisure Investment Programme at Appendix 1;

2.      Recommend to Council the approval of an additional capital budget of £1.04 million, above the £2million already agreed in the capital programme necessary to deliver the Leisure Investment Programme;

3.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for A Healthy Oxford; the Deputy Leader (Statutory) - Finance and Asset Management; the Head of Finance/Section 151 Officer and the Head of Law and Governance to agree the terms of the legal agreement with Serco Leisure (“More Leisure) to govern payment of the monies for the Leisure Investment Programme; and

4.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for A Healthy Oxford; the Deputy Leader (Statutory) - Finance and Asset Management and the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer to determine any additional opportunities to reinvest the funds if any monies remain following delivery of the Leisure Investment Programme, whilst ensuring no detrimental impact to the Council’s return on investment.