Agenda item

This report seeks Cabinet approval to undertake a Tri-borough procurement exercise with Ealing and Harrow, to deliver the leisure service provision at Vale Farm Leisure Centre from September 2025.

Cabinet RESOLVED, having noted the information contained within the appendices marked as exempt, to:

(1)    Note that the Council’s current Tri-borough contract in respect of Vale Farm Leisure Centre with Sport & Leisure Management Limited (SLM) ended in August 2025.

(2)    Approve the undertaking of a Tri-borough procurement with the London Boroughs of Ealing and Harrow to deliver leisure service provision at Vale Farm Leisure Centre, such procurement to be led by the London Borough of Harrow.

(3)    Approve the use of the London Borough of Harrow’s Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations in the procurement of the contract referred to in (2) above.

(4)    Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Community Health and Wellbeing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Health and Wellbeing to approve steps in the procurement of the contract referred to in (2) above as are necessary and consistent with the content of this report.

(5)    Note that following the procurement of the Contract referred to in (2) above officers will report back to Cabinet to seek approval to award the Contract.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 24 June 24

Councillor Nerva (Cabinet Member for Community Health & Wellbeing) introduced a report presenting the outcome of an options appraisal exercise undertaken in relation to the procurement of future leisure service provision and operation of Vale Farm Leisure Centre from September 2025 onwards.

In introducing the report, Councillor Nerva began by outlining the current operational arrangements for the three Leisure Centres managed by the Council which involved in-house delivery at Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre (CLC) and was due to form part of the wider planned redevelopment of the area, the management of Willesden Leisure Centre through a PFI contract running until 2031 and delivery of provision at Vale Farm Leisure Centre through a Tri-borough contract with Harrow and Ealing Councils operated by Sports and Leisure Management Ltd (Everyone Active).

Members were advised that neither the contract, PFI end date or timeline for the redevelopment of Bridge Park CLC currently aligned in terms of seeking a combined management arrangement so, following a decision to vary and extend the existing Tri-borough Leisure contract for Vale Farm Sports Centre to August 2025, a full options appraisal process had been undertaken to consider the different management options available for that specific Centre.  This had included the potential for in-house provision, creation of a LATCO (Local Authority Trading Company), procurement by Brent alone and continuation of a Tri-borough procurement with Ealing and Harrow, details of which had been outlined in Appendix 3 of the report.  It was noted the appraisal had identified a Tri-borough procurement as the favoured option in terms of not only affordability but also market testing and service offer.

In considering the outcome of the appraisal process, Members noted not only the financial benefits which had been delivered through the current Tri-borough approach in terms of wider economies of scale and market appeal beyond offering Vale Farm as a standalone management contract but also (from a non-financial perspective) in relation to the shared contract management and knowledge sharing arrangements across the three boroughs.  The proposed arrangements would also be expected to deliver increased opportunities for career development for leisure staff, with London living wage compliance also a requirement, alongside the potential to explore the development of an employment charter.  Members also noted the inclusion within the proposed specification for the new service of a requirement on the provider to respond to the diversity of resident needs in support of development of the Council’s wider vision for active leisure as a means to improve health and address health inequalities. This included the aspiration to provide a more equitable and inclusive offer for all residents and all parts of the borough working in partnership with the Council, community and voluntary organisations, sports clubs, and other bodies.  In concluding the introduction members were advised that whilst the Council’s other two leisure facilities fell outside of the scope of the current contract the ambition still remained to align the management of the three facilities in the future, with officers continuing to explore options that the Council may be able exercise alongside the potential to introduce a break clause in any new contractual arrangement in order to facilitate such an alignment.

Whilst supportive of the approach outlined, recognising the extensive nature of the options appraisal process undertaken, Cabinet advised they remained keen, whilst noting the challenges identified, to explore the potential to align management of all three Leisure Centres including the option for in-house provision.  In the meantime, however, members welcomed the benefits identified through the proposed tri-borough procurement option given the ability to continue supporting the delivery of more holistic leisure provision as part of the wider Health & Wellbeing Strategy across the borough.

Cabinet thanked all those involved in the option appraisal process and development of the proposals outlined in the report and, having noted the information contained within the exempt appendices included as part of the report, RESOLVED:

(1)    Note that the Council’s current Tri-borough contract in respect of Vale Farm Leisure Centre with Sport & Leisure Management Limited (SLM) ended in August 2025.

(2)    Approve the undertaking of a Tri-borough procurement with the London Boroughs of Ealing and Harrow to deliver leisure service provision at Vale Farm Leisure Centre, such procurement to be led by the London Borough of Harrow.

(3)    Approve the use of the London Borough of Harrow’s Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations in the procurement of the contract referred to in (2) above.

(4)    Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Community Health and Wellbeing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Health and Wellbeing to approve steps in the procurement of the contract referred to in (2) above as are necessary and consistent with the content of this report.

(5)    Note that following the procurement of the Contract referred to in (2) above officers will report back to Cabinet to seek approval to award the Contract.