SLC facilitated a half day Transforming Leisure 
and Cultural Services Procurement Think Tank on 23 February 2016 in Loughborough. Strategic input and facilitation was provided through SLC’s Duncan Wood-Allum, David Rushton and Toby Kingsbury.
The session was designed to provide a platform for best practice, sharing of lessons learned and promote the development of more effective partnerships, leisure and cultural contracts and outcomes. The following key themes were explored at the Think Tank based on delegates:
- establishing need to shape leisure and cultural strategies and any subsequent pre procurement strategy
- options appraisals
- exploring opportunities to achieve wider strategic outcomes through better alignment with Public Health
- re-provision and procurement of a new leisure facility and operating contract through a Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) contract
- key insights from local authorities coming to the end of their existing operational contracts
- exploring the implications for a joint cross boundary procurement
- achieving better outcomes and reduced subsidies / positive management fees
- exploring funding opportunities.
Ten leading local authorities were represented by Officers and Elected Members; Babergh District Council & Mid Suffolk District Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Gravesham Borough Council, North Kesteven District Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Slough Borough Council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council & High Peak Borough Council, Watford Borough Council and West Lindsey District Council.
Ivan Horsfall-Turner Director of Freedom Leisure attended the Think Tank on this occasion (SLC invites all major operators on a rotating basis) allowing for a two way dialogue with an Operator under ‘Chatham House Rules’. Legal input was provided by Trowers and Hamlin LLP.
The case study on the day was presented
by Alan New and Richard Savory of Worcester City Council, who provided a fascinating insight into their approach (in partnership with SLC) on securing an outcomes based contract and outstanding improvement on their management fee linked to the redevelopment of the new Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
We are delighted to announce details of our next Think Tank to be held on 14 June 2016, hosted by Fusion Lifestyle at Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness, London. This event targeted at local authorities in London and the South will enable local authority senior officers and Members to have a more informed approach to the challenges of leisure facility development and leisure management procurement.
Case studies of recent developments, many of which SLC have supported will be presented including the innovative partnership between Haringey Council and Fusion Lifestyle at New River Sport and Fitness (Formerly White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre). For further details or to request a place, please email us here.