Issue - meetings

Arising from a report from the Interim Chief Executive and Head of HR and Development, the Community Well-Being Policy Development Group had recommended that the Leisure Pricing report be approved subject to the following:

a)    All basic fees, lets and charges be increased by 5% from 1 April 2016;

b)    That discounts for 60+ Zest membership be set at:

a.    30% for 2016/17

b.    20% for 2017/18

c.    10% for 2018/19

d.    And from 2019/20 be as per the appropriate Zest membership fee;

c)    That concessionary Junior Zest memberships be discounted by 10% from the appropriate junior monthly Zest membership fee;

d)    That a full review of rents, lets and charges be undertaken with a view to further simplifying the tariff structure;

e)    That within six months a full review of Leisure Services income and resources be undertaken to ensure a positive long-term financial result for the service.

Arising from a report from the Interim Chief Executive and Head of HR and Development, the Community Well-Being Policy Development Group had recommended that the Leisure Pricing report be approved subject to the following:

a)    All basic fees, lets and charges be increased by 5% from 1 April 2016;

b)    That discounts for 60+ Zest membership be set at:

a.    30% for 2016/17

b.    20% for 2017/18

c.    10% for 2018/19

d.    And from 2019/20 be as per the appropriate Zest membership fee;

c)    That concessionary Junior Zest memberships be discounted by 10% from the appropriate junior monthly Zest membership fee;

d)    That a full review of rents, lets and charges be undertaken with a view to further simplifying the tariff structure;

e)    That within six months a full review of Leisure Services income and resources be undertaken to ensure a positive long-term financial result for the service.

The Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being outlined the contents of the report stating that the Policy Development Group had discussed the matter fully and had acknowledged that the pricing scheme needed to be simplified. A variety of different membership tariffs had been introduced over a period of time, to increase sales and generate cash income.  However the service could no longer afford to do this.  A review of the current pricing literature and information had been undertaken which revealed a complicated structure.

Consideration was given to:

·         A review of the whole structure of leisure looking at income and expenditure and that this take place within a period of 6 months and that a further report be presented to the Community Well Being Policy Development Group in September 2016.

·         Cllr Deed’s request that the wording of the recommendation from the Policy Development be corrected.

It was therefore

RESOLVED that

a)    All basic fees, lets, rents and charges be increased by 5% from 1 April 2016;

b)    That discounts for 60+ Zest membership be set at:

a.    30% for 2016/17

b.    20% for 2017/18

c.    10% for 2018/19

d.    And from 2019/20 be as per the appropriate Zest membership fee;

c)    That concessionary Junior Zest memberships be discounted by 10% from the appropriate junior monthly Zest membership fee;

d)    That within a period of 6 months and by 27 September 2016, a full review of all fees, rents, lets and charges be undertaken with a view to further simplifying the tariff structure;

e)    That within six months a full review of Leisure Services income and expenditure resources be undertaken to ensure a positive financial result for the service in the financial year ending 31 March 2020

 (Proposed by  the Chairman and seconded by Cllr  C R Slade)

Note: - *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report of the Leisure Manager advising Members of the proposed leisure pricing strategy for 2016/17.

The Group had before it a report * from the Leisure Manager advising Members of the proposed Leisure pricing strategy for 2016/17.

The Leisure Manager outlined the contents of the report, explaining that a new structure had recently been put in place, investment had been undertaken at the Centres and that the Leisure service had been tasked to become self-funding by 2020.

He explained that a variety of different membership tariffs had been introduced over a period of time, to increase sales and generate cash income.  However the service could no longer afford to do this.  A review of the current pricing literature and information had been undertaken which revealed a complicated structure.

One area being considered for change was the Zest membership provision for the over 60’s which was currently subsidised. 

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The over 60’s and the fact that the retirement age was now a moving figure;

·         A subsidised fee based on ability to pay would ensure that those that could not afford the full membership would still be able to use the facilities;

·         Benchmarking against other local facilities;

·         Wetside facilities were expensive to run and were subsidised by dryside facilities;

·         The need to keep wetside facilities affordable;

·         The need to prepare a four year approach;

·         The possible introduction of car parking charges at the centres;

·         The need for staff to be trained to deal sensitively with means tested applications;

·         Welcome packs for new home owners.

It was RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that the Leisure Pricing report be approved subject to the following:

a)    All basic fees, lets and charges be increased by 5% from 1 April 2016;

b)    That discounts for 60+ Zest membership be set at:

1)    30% for 2016/17

2)    20% for 2017/18

3)    10% for 2018/19

4)    And from 2019/20 be as per the appropriate Zest membership fee;

c)    That concessionary Junior Zest memberships be discounted by 10% from the appropriate junior monthly Zest membership fee;

d)    That a full review of rents, lets and charges be undertaken with a view to further simplifying the tariff structure;

e)    That within six months a full review of Leisure services income and resources be undertaken to ensure a positive long-term financial result for the service.

(Proposed by Cllr R M Deed and seconded by Cllr F Letch)

Notes:-i)   Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes

ii)  Councillor F J Colthorpe declared a Personal Interest as she had a friend that was a Zest member.

iii) Councillor Mrs J Binks declared a Personal Interest as she was a Zest Member.