The report presents Fusion Lifestyle’s 2013/2014 annual service plan for the management of the Council’s leisure facilities.

Following recommendation from the Leisure Partnership Board, City Executive Board is recommended to endorse Fusion Lifestyle’s Annual Service Plan for the management of the Council’s leisure facilities for 2013/14

The Head of Leisure and Parks submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) concerning Fusion Lifestyle’s Annual Service Plan for 2013/14.  Councillor Van Coulter, Board Member for Leisure Services presented the report to the Board and provided some background and context.

He asked the Board to note that:-

(1)   The contract with Fusion will deliver savings of £7 million (over base budget) over ten years;

(2)   To date it has delivered £3.5 million in investment and has increased participation in sports and physical activities;

(3)   There were 1.1. m recorded visits to leisure facilities in the past year, with the subsidy per visitor dropping to 57p for the year to date.

Councillor Coulter congratulated both Fusion and the leisure staff for their hard work. He noted that there was a need to drive up participation, especially from the more deprived areas of the City. He commended the report to City Executive Board.

Ian Brooke added that the Council and Fusion were keen to rise to the challenges, and that whilst many sports nationally were having difficulties with participation levels, Oxford had seen a 40% increase since 2009.  In answer to a question, Lucy Cherry reported that there had been an 85 tonne carbon saving in the past year, and that savings in water usage were expected.

Resolved to endorse Fusion Lifestyle’s Annual Service Plan for the management of the Council’s leisure facilities for 2013/14.