Issue - meetings

To note the following decision made by the Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being.

DECISION

To agree the strategy and price increase proposed as outlined in appendices 1-6 as presented to the Community Policy Development Group on 31 January 2017.

REASON FOR THE DECISION

To facilitate early implementation of the revised leisure pricing policy with effect from 1 April 2017.

The Cabinet NOTED that the following decision had been made by the Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being:

To agree the strategy and price increase proposed as outlined in appendices 1-6 as presented to the Community Policy Development Group on 31 January 2017.

The reason for the decision being:

To facilitate early implementation of the revised leisure pricing policy with effect from 1 April 2017.

To receive a report from the Leisure Manager, Development and Performance, advising Members of the proposed leisure pricing strategy for 2016/17.

The Group had before it a report * from the Leisure Manager – Development & Performance advising Members of the proposed leisure pricing strategy for 2017/18.

The officer outlined the contents of the report, explaining that it identified the four income streams; front of house, wetside, health and fitness and dryside.  The report proposed an indicative increase on current fees and prices per area, ranging from 3 to 5%, following a benchmarking comparison with local like-for-like providers.

It was proposed that concessionary memberships, which were currently restricted to using facilities before 5.00pm, be changed to allow unrestricted access, rewarding members for their loyalty and attracting new custom from people that may be disadvantaged by the existing time restrictions.

Auto-renewal of annual memberships would be available next year which would make it easier for customers to renew at the end of their subscription.  They would receive correspondence to advise them that the payment would be taken.

Officers were engaging with local businesses to encourage corporate relationships and arrangements.  Following a review of business size in Mid Devon, corporate deals would be offered to all organisations rather than only those with a minimum of 10 employees which was the current criteria. Local businesses would also be offered training in areas such as health and nutrition, business management and team development.

Discussion took place regarding employers being shown the importance of having a healthy workforce and that local accommodation providers could be asked to promote the centres, or incentivised to do so.

Due to the date of the meeting of the Group there would not be time for the report to go to Cabinet and then an appropriate amount of time for consultation with customers be put in place before the new financial year.  Therefore it was RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member agree the strategy and price increases proposed as a delegated decision.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note: Report * previously circulated and attached to Minutes.