Agenda item

That the Committee’s comments on the completed feasibility studies and the initial business planning be considered by the officers and used to inform further progress.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change (2) )  introduced a report on the completed feasibility work for Leisure, Libraries and Facility Management services, including preferred Alternative Delivery Model (ADM) options, and to share the initial priorities for the business planning phase of work.

                        The Chief Officer (Organisational Change (2) ) provided background information and referred to the key considerations as detailed in the report.  He advised that at this stage no decisions had been taken about whether services should ultimately establish ADMs; this would be done at the end of the business planning stage.  The business planning stage will include engagement of all service staff to develop and consider final proposals.  Business Plans are due to be completed at the end of the year/New Year.   The preferred options for each services and issues/conditions to be covered in the business planning stage were detailed in the report.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change (1) ) introduced Steve Jones, Facilities Operations Manager, and invited him to give a presentation on the ADM Facilities Services (Catering and Cleaning).  The main points of the presentation were as follows:

·         current provision

·         approach

·         strategic objectives

·         the Catering and Cleaning TECKAL

·         considerations for change

·         making it stack up

·         key risks and mitigation

·         the new offer

·         Finance

·         next steps

The Chair invited Members to raise questions.

Members expressed concerns that they had not been given the opportunity to consider the information provided in the presentation prior to the meeting.  It was agreed that Officers would be requested to consider how information was provided in the future, in light of the work of the Committee which was asked to provide comments on change initiatives.  In response to the further concerns raised by Councillor Carver around scrutiny,  Officers explained that there would be a further opportunity for the Committee to scrutinise proposals in the business plan in more detail during the second stage.  

            In response to the comments raised the Facilities Operations Manager advised that the aim was to provide a modern, efficient and profitable catering and cleaning services in a delivery model which reduced and eventually removed the need for financial subsidy from the Council.

Councillor Carolyn Thomas sought further explanation of the TECKAL Company model.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change (1) ) advised that the TECKAL Company was a legal entity which would remain wholly owned by the Authority, maintaining social responsibility.  It would maintain service provision within the public sector whilst supporting expansion into the private sector.

Responding to the further questions and concerns raised Officers explained that the intention was to share information with Members as early as possible to engage thoughts and comments which would be used to inform and progress the business planning prior to scrutiny of the proposals.  Councillor Bernie Attridge emphasised that at this stage no decisions had been made by Cabinet about whether services should establish ADMs.

Referring to the financial information provided in the presentation Councillor Robin Guest expressed concern around the reference to the term ‘FCC subsidy’.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change (1) explained that the term was used to describe a fee for the service and it was agreed that the wording  ‘FCC subsidy’ should be replaced by the wording ‘FCC fee’.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change (1) ) introduced Mike Welch, Principal Leisure Services Officer, and Pennie Corbett, Principal Librarian,  and invited them to give a presentation on the ADM Leisure and Libraries.  The main points of the presentation were as follows:

·         current provision

·         approach

·         strategic objectives

·         which ADM and benefits

·         Community Asset transfer

·         transfer to a mutual or cooperative

·         the new offer

·         how will an ADM be more productive and increase income

·         key risks and mitigation

·         Finance: MTFP

·         next steps 

The Chairman invited Members to raise questions.

In response to a query raised by Councillor Carolyn Thomas the Chief Officer (Organisational Change (1) ) provided further clarification on transfer to a mutual or  cooperative company or society. 

Councillor David Healey referred to the longer term consideration of Community Asset Transfers to secure the future of dual use school sites and expressed concerns around the implications for staffing arrangements during weekends and school holidays.  The Principal Leisure Services Officer commented on the need for collaborative working with local communities and said there were good examples of where partnership working between the community and school worked well to keep services open longer.  In response to the further concerns raised by Councillor Peter Curtis around community asset transfers and leisure centres the Chief Officer (Organisational Change (1) ) agreed to provide figures on the running costs and usage for the Council’s leisure centres.

During discussion it was agreed that Officers consider and refine the terminology used so that it went beyond the current 10 models for alternative delivery to describe some of the likely legal models and how asset transfer differed to other delivery models. 

Councillor Carolyn Thomas referred to the financial information provided in the presentation and asked that more detail be provided on fixed play provision and playschemes.  She requested that this be included as an item on the Committee’s forward work programme.  In response to the further comments and concerns raised by Councillor Thomas regarding mobile library service provision in rural areas the Principal Librarian confirmed that this service was under review. 

RESOLVED:

That the Committee’s comments on the completed feasibility studies and the initial business planning be considered by the officers and used to inform further progress.