Agenda item

This report sets out the progress on the cross borough (Ealing, Harrow and Brent, referred to as “the Partnership”) procurement for leisure services, including Vale Farm Sports Centre. The report highlights that the Partnership wishes to award the Contract to Sports and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM), and seeks approval for the award.

(i) that the award of a single 10 year contract for delivery of leisure management services for Brent, Ealing and Harrow Councils to Sports and Leisure Management Ltd based on their Variant bid for Brent at the cost explained in section 4 of the report from the Director of Environmental and Neighbourhood Services and detailed in confidential appendix 2 be approved.

(ii) that it be noted that the contract award will only be implemented if Ealing and Harrow Council also approve the award.

(iii) that approval be delegated to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement to finalise outstanding contractual matters.

(iv) that the use of Prudential borrowing to fund the required £1.776M capital investment that would result in the facility improvements and provision of gym equipment detailed in paragraphs 4.4 and 4.5 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services and which compared favourably to the contractor’s borrowing rates, be authorised.

(v) that the shared contract management model set out in paragraph 3.32 of the report be agreed, whereby Ealing would act on behalf of Brent and Harrow as the client for leisure services

(vi) that an exemption from the usual tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders be authorised to enable the award of a service contract to Ealing Council for the duration of this leisure management contract.

(vii) that authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement, to conclude and sign on the Council’s behalf the Inter Authority Agreement discussed in paragraph 3.33 of the report.

(viii) that the grant of leases to the new contractor of such Council premises as the Contractor may occupy for the purpose of the performance of the contract be approved; such leases to run concurrently with the contract and to be on terms to be agreed with the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement and Assistant Director of Regeneration and Major Projects (Property and Asset Management).

Cross-borough procurement of leisure services was being pursued with Ealing and Harrow Council (the Partnership) and this would include the Brent facility of Vale Farm Sports Centre.  The current leisure management contract for this facility was due to expire on 31 October 2013. The report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services provided an update on this procurement and set out proposals for the award of a contract to Sports and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM).  SLM would invest in Vale Farm sports centre, providing enhanced sporting facilities to Brent residents including an expanded gym and improved changing facilities, whilst at the same time providing savings of £285,000 per annum. As part of the procurement process Brent council had specified standards of service, maintained control over casual swimming charges, retained its free swimming offer and developed a specification that would help deliver Brent’s Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity.  Sue Harper (Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services) advised that it was also proposed to use prudential borrowing to fund the required £1.776m capital investment required for facility improvements and provision of gym equipment and noted that this compared favourably with the contractors borrowing rates.

Councillor Mashari, responding to a query from Councillor Cheese, advised that concessions would be maintained for pensioners, along with the free swimming offer.

The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following categories of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

(i)      that the award of a single 10 year contract for delivery of leisure management services for Brent, Ealing and Harrow Councils to Sports and Leisure Management Ltd based on their Variant bid for Brent at the cost explained in section 4 of the report from the Director of Environmental and Neighbourhood Services and detailed in confidential appendix 2 be approved:

(ii)     that it be noted that the contract award will only be implemented if Ealing and Harrow Council also approve the award.

(iii)    that approval be delegated to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement to finalise outstanding contractual matters.

(iv)    that the use of Prudential borrowing to fund the required £1.776M capital investment that would result in the facility improvements and provision of gym equipment detailed in paragraphs 4.4 and 4.5 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services and which compared favourably to the contractor’s borrowing rates, be authorised.

(v)     that the shared contract management model set out in paragraph 3.32 of the report be agreed, whereby Ealing would act on behalf of Brent and Harrow as the client for leisure services

(vi)    that an exemption from the usual tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders be authorised to enable the award of a service contract to Ealing Council for the duration of this leisure management contract.

(vii) that authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement, to conclude and sign on the Council’s behalf the Inter Authority Agreement discussed in paragraph 3.33 of the report.

(viii) that the grant of leases to the new contractor of such Council premises as the Contractor may occupy for the purpose of the performance of the contract be approved; such leases to run concurrently with the contract and to be on terms to be agreed with the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement and Assistant Director of Regeneration and Major Projects (Property and Asset Management).