O&S.73/19
Consideration was given to a
report that presented the 2019 Annual Report from Fusion Lifestyle
on the management of all six leisure centres across South Hams and
West Devon.
Following a joint presentation
conducted by the Council’s Assets (Leisure) Specialist and
the Fusion Lifestyle representatives, a debate ensued, during which
particular reference was made to:
(a)
the effectiveness of the recent Task and Finish Group
Review. The Fusion representatives and
a number of Members wished to put on record that the recent Task
and Finish Group Review had been very successful and had led to
closer working relations between the Council and Fusion
Lifestyle;
(b)
the aging nature of the Leisure Centres buildings. Whilst there had been significant investment
inside the Centres from Fusion Lifestyle, there was a general
recognition that the Centres were aging buildings that would soon
require some investment works to be carried out. A local Ward Member referred to the significant
recent improvements that had been made to the Ivybridge Leisure Centre and urged all Members to
visit the site;
(c)
the conclusions of the Task and Finish Group in respect of
sustainability/environmental improvements. Whilst in the infancy of a long journey, the
Fusion representatives advised that the Climate Change agenda was
being given great corporate emphasis by the
organisation. The representatives
proceeded to outline some of the progress and challenges that they
were facing to fulfil their sustainability and environmental
obligations.
Such was the significance of the issue, that an
additional recommendation was then PROPOSED and
SECONDED and when put to the vote was declared
CARRIED:
‘That the Panel request that
Fusion Lifestyle representatives provide a further report in six
months’ time specifically on the progress being made on their
sustainability/environmental obligations.’
(d)
Community Development and Outreach. Whilst representatives confirmed that they did
approach local target community groups, Members were also reminded
that other groups could contact Fusion’s Community
Development officers themselves. It was
noted that all Members had a role to play in this respect and it
was also acknowledged that Fusion’s Community Development
resources were not plentiful.
The representatives also informed that they were
currently drafting the Fusion Annual Sport and Community
Development Plan and all Members were encouraged to have an input
into this process before the Plan was signed off in
April.
Some Members reiterated their frustrations that a
number of parishes received no provision from the Community
Outreach service. Following a lengthy
discussion, it was agreed that a future meeting would be set up
between Fusion representatives and those Members who had expressed
concerns;
(e)
customer
satisfaction levels. The
representatives stated that, whilst the customer satisfaction
scores were disappointing, they were not unsurprising given both
the low sample size and the extent of the disruption that had been
caused by the internal renovation works during 2019. As a consequence, the organisation was very
confident that the equivalent figures in 2020 would see a
considerable improvement;
(f)
a review of Centre pricing structures.
In light of the ...
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