Issue - meetings
Leisure Investment Programme Update and More Leisure Service Annual Plan
Meeting: 18/06/2025 - Cabinet (Item 6)
6 Leisure Investment Programme Update PDF 151 KB
The Director of Communities and Citizens Services submitted a report to update Cabinet on the highlights of the first year of the new leisure contract and approve the Annual Service Plan 2025-26, which is an annual requirement of the operator, aiming to align outcomes to the Council’s priorities and to address health inequalities.
Cabinet is recommended to:
Approve the Leisure Annual Service Plan 2025-26.
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 - Oxford Annual Service Plan 2025-26, item 6
PDF 294 KB View as DOCX (6/2) 120 KB
- Appendix 2 - Active Communities Plan 2025-26, item 6
PDF 159 KB
- Appendix 3 - Leisure Upgrades Overview, item 6
PDF 6 MB View as PPTX (6/4) 12 MB
- Appendix 4 - Risk Register for Leisure Contract, item 6
PDF 91 KB
- Appendix 5 - Equalities Impact Assessment - Leisure Contract, item 6
PDF 588 KB View as DOCX (6/6) 507 KB
Minutes:
The Director of Communities and Citizens Services had submitted a report to update Cabinet on the highlights of the first year of the new leisure contract and approve the Annual Service Plan 2025-26, which is an annual requirement of the operator, aiming to align outcomes to the Council’s priorities and to address health inequalities.
Councillor Munkonge presented the report. He said that there was a lot of good work being done in the plan and that they had seen a number of improvements, including an increase in numbers in swimming lessons. Despite these improvements, he recognized that they can always make improvements and do more. Councillor Munkonge apologized that the report did not have information regarding the creche. He noted that conversations were still underway between More Leisure and the Council on this topic and the outcome would be in the next plan for 26/27.
James Baughan, Leisure and Active Wellbeing Manager, said that there had been a lot of success in the last year and they had seen several improvements from their previous operator. Overall, he said that they were confident that everything was now running as it should. With transformation work in the centres, he noted that there was still work to do. Following up from Councillor Munkonge, the Leisure and Active Wellbeing Manager said that they community fund was now open for applications.
Hagan Lewisman, Active Communities Manager, said that there had been great successes with the contracts. He noted the positive developments with Hinksey pool and the Leys soft play area. He noted the good attendance that they had seen and discussed the governance they’d put in place to provide assurance moving forward.
Councillor Linda Smith noted her disappointed that no one from Serco had been able to attend the meeting. Councillor Smith emphasised the importance of having creches in their leisure facilities and discussed how this would make the leisure facilities. She noted that multiple creches had closed during COVID and had not reopened. She said that she was disappointed that the plan did not include the reopening of creches in their leisure facilities.
Councillor Munkonge responded and said that they should focus on the bigger picture. He noted that some of the creches had closed because they were not viable. Councillor Munkonge agreed that the inclusion of a creche was important and apologized that their discussions about the creches had not been included in the agenda pack. He said that he had assured Councillor Smith that he would address this matter. He said that they were working with More Leisure to include creches in their plan for 26/27.
The Leisure and Active Wellbeing Manager added that there was a commitment from Council Officers and More Leisure to explore the viability of the creche for the 26/27 plan. He said that the current contract sought to look at things differently and make the centres more accessible. He noted the small childcare provision which was in place at the moment in one of their locations. He ... view the full minutes text for item 6