To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Minutes:
Nick Quinn
Appendix 3 for this Budget Update shows the increased 2025 fees and charges for the use of the Leisure Facilities.
The Budget Update recommendation 2 was that Cabinet ‘Notes’ the fees and charges shown in appendix 3 – including the Leisure Facilities charges.
Previous decisions had stated that increases were to be based on the National Retail Price Increase (RPI) percentage, set every September, with any additional increase over this level to be fully justified. The September 2024 RPI inflation figure was 2.7%.
It was obvious, from a simple examination of the Leisure Fees and Charges now published, that this RPI increase had been surpassed in most cases - with a general rate increase of approximately 5%.
A more serious point arising from the published prices was that, despite previous statements and assurances, Junior and Concession users were being heavily targeted again, with massive increases of between 20% to over 50%, in one instance.
No justification for the above inflation increase in these Leisure Fees and Charges, or the targeting of Junior and Concessionary users, had been made public.
Question 1:
Would the appropriate Cabinet Member please explain why the Leisure Fees and Charges were being increased so much more for Junior and Concession user sessions, than Standard users?
Response from the Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement:
The leisure fees saw a varying degree of increase across the many activities offered. This was a result of moving to a standardised 20% discount on the full price. In addition to making a standard 20% discount on pay as you go fees, and a 25% discount on membership fees, the £15pa cost of the concessionary card had been removed.
Pay as you go (PAYG) customers generally speaking, used the facilities once per week, often far less. This £15pa reduction therefore had a significant impact on reducing the overall cost of attending activities, and removed the barrier to entry. For those using the facilities twice per week or more, membership at 25% discount may be more beneficial. The Council were of course always keen to encourage frequent participation to improve overall health and wellbeing.
In relation to juniors and concessionary charges specifically, it was worth noting that whilst some fees saw an increase last year some remained static and this year the higher increases were against those that saw no increase over the last two years. There were in fact some concessionary charges that had come down such as Junior Racquet sports which had seen a decrease in cost, or remained static for a second year in a row, in relation to badminton, tennis, pickle ball and table tennis. Junior non concession badminton saw a 7% increase over the last 2 years. This was in addition to the 100% reduction in the cost of the concessionary pay as you go card which previously cost £7.50 every 6 months. Our junior concession price for a swim saw an increase to £3.00, 50p below that of other local authorities and reflective of the increasing cost of running swimming pools.
The Council had undertaken benchmarking against our competitors and other local authorities and were proud to continue delivering our exceptional services at lower cost than those around us.
Membership was at its highest ever, the price increases had been well received by customers and the growth in membership take up, and PAYG participation continues.
Question 2:
I ask that Cabinet does not just ‘Note’ the 2025 Leisure Fees and Charges, shown in Appendix 3, but that Cabinet ask the appropriate Policy Development Group (PDG) to provide a public justification for the high level of rises that had been introduced for using these facilities.
Response from the Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement:
The information contained in the report was debated and agreed at the Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement PDG and Cabinet. It was commercially sensitive and therefore went into part 2.
The Council had received no other negative feedback regarding the increases and had received positive comments about the removal of the £15pa concessionary card cost.