Issue - meetings

To consider a future operating model for Oldham Community Leisure (Part A report)

Members of the Governance, Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board scrutinised a report of the Executive Director of Health and Social Care/Deputy Chief Executive, which sought approval to extend the Changing Futures Team to advised that the Council was required to decide on the most appropriate future delivery model for the Borough’s leisure services to ensure long-term financial sustainability, operational resilience and full alignment with the authority’s corporate, and health and well-being priorities, including tackling inactivity and inequalities in our communities.

The Council’s arrangements with Oldham Active (also known at Oldham Community Leisure Limited – OCL) was approaching a transition point, hence there was a need for a clear strategic decision that benefits residents and Oldham.

The report represented a strategic choice, not a default about how the Council secures both commercial discipline, growth and public value in the management of a key public asset.

The submitted report sets out the findings of an interim review into the future delivery of Oldham’s leisure services and sought approval to advance a preferred option.

The review had considered four models:

a.    In-house delivery,

b.    A Council owned organisation such as a Local Authority Controlled Trading Company (LATCo),

c.     A joint venture company (discounted at an early stage),

d.    A competitive procurement process.

Each option has been assessed against financial, operational, governance and strategic criteria.

Resolved:

That the Scrutiny Board would consider the commercially sensitive information contained in the report, at Item 21 on the agenda before making a recommendation.