The Scrutiny Officer submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee on the Fusion Lifestyle – Annual Service Plan 2015/16           

The Scrutiny Officer presented the report. He ran through the recommendations.

Cllr Rowley, Board Member for Leisure Contract and Community Partnership Grants said that he would look into the possibility of the first two recommendations and agreed with recommendation 3.  He felt that it would be possible to measure the carbon reduction target on a per user basis (recommendation 4)

Cllr Simm asked how disabled users were identified and monitored. The Divisional Business Manager for Fusion-Lifestyle explained that disabled users statistics used the number of customers that registered as disabled on their membership cards.

The City Executive Board resolved to AGREE

1. To investigation whether a more ambitious performance target is adopted for increasing the participation of users resident in the most deprived wards in our city (the existing proposal is for the target to increase from 110,000 visits in 2014/15 to 114,000 visits in 2015/16).

2. To investigation whether a more ambitious performance target is adopted for increasing the participation of disabled users (the existing proposal is for the target to increase from 15,000 visits in 2014/15 to 16,000 visits in 2015/16).

3. To continue to work with Fusion Lifestyle to remove barriers to participation for our target groups, for example by seeking to extend crèche provision to more Council leisure facilities.

4. That the utility consumption performance target is changed to a carbon reduction target, measured on a per user basis and total carbon emissions p.a.  This could be in line with the City Council’s corporate target of reducing carbon emissions by 5% per annum.

The Head of Leisure, Parks and Communities submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed Fusion Lifestyle’s Annual Service Plan for the management of the Council’s leisure facilities for 2015/16.

The Head of Leisure, Parks and Communities presented the report. He explained that the Board could expect to see another report which would present the end of year target results in June.

The Blackbird Leys facility is operating well, an independent audit had rated it a first class facility for disable users.

Cllr Rowley, Board Member for Leisure Contract and Community Partnership Grants explained that it was a testament to the Leisure Strategy that the Council was able to show flexibility and stretch targets. He congratulated all officers involved.

Cllr Tanner asked how Fusion was able to continue to make money. The Divisional Business Manager for Fusion-Lifestyle explained that it was combination of increased attendance, opening facilities for longer – for example the Hinksey Outdoor Pool was due to open a month earlier than last year and a small increase in membership fees.

The City Executive Board resolved to ENDORSE Fusion Lifestyle’s Annual Service Plan for 2015/16.