Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies or named substitutes.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To consider and approve the minutes of the meetings of the Shareholders Committee held on:

·         17^th November 2021

·         14^th December 2021

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meetings of the Shareholders Committee held on 17^th November and 14^th December 2021 be approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chair.

“That, under S.100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matter(s) on the grounds that it/they involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs (to be specified) of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the said Act”.

These paragraphs are as follows:

Subject to the “public interest” test, information relating to:

·         Para 3 – financial or business affairs;

·         Para 4 – labour relations matters;

                     and may need to be considered as ‘exempt’.

Under S.100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matters on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the said Act, as amended.

Minute No. 33 Quarter 3 Performance Monitoring Report

Minute No. 34 Financial Plan 2022/23

Minute No. 35 Update from the Interim Managing Director

Minute No. 36 Annual Audited Accounts

The Chair invited the Interim Managing Director of Rubicon Leisure Limited to present the performance monitoring report for the third quarter of 2021/22.  It was reiterated that the 2020/21 year had been challenging due to lockdown and that the facilities had reopened during the course of the last financial year and the signs of recovery were beginning to show within the Quarter 3 report.  Performance had been very strong and had exceeded expectations, and in almost all areas income had been in excess of the original targets set.  This appeared to be continuing into Quarter 4 and the Interim Managing Director was expecting a significant improvement against that originally expected which would reduce the level of support needed from Redditch Borough Council.  It was further noted that the figures for fitness and swimming lessons were higher than they had ever been before, and membership was in excess of other areas across the country.  Good use was being made of the Area 7 outdoor gym equipment, which provided an enhanced fitness offer to members.

It was highlighted that Pitcheroak Golf Course had had its best year ever, despite not being opened for the full year.  Breakfast and lunch services had also been reintroduced, which had helped support this.  There had been concerns around the Palace Theatre and its ability to deliver all scheduled shows for the pantomime and the Interim Managing Director was pleased to report that the Team had been able to do so and that the sales levels were very close to those experienced previously.  The Quarter 4 programme was also providing lots of encouragement in preparation for the 2022/23 financial year.  He hoped that the positive report provided the Committee with confidence moving into the new year.

Following presentation of the report the Committee discussed a number of areas including:

·       The outlook was very optimistic, and the Committee gave its thanks to the whole team for its hard work in very difficult circumstances.

·       The Committee were pleased to see that the forecasts had not been too low and that the results were very positive.

·       Members were pleased to see that there was now a focus on Health and Safety training for staff.

·       The consistence of the figures across all areas.

RESOLVED that

the Rubicon Leisure Limited Quarter 3 Performance Monitoring Report be noted.

(During the consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed which related to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  However, there is nothing exempt in this record of the item.)

The Interim Managing Director of Rubicon Leisure Limited presented the Financial Plan for 2022/23, which built on the progress made in Quarters 3 and 4 of the previous year.  He hoped this gave the Shareholders confidence in the future of the business and highlighted two areas in particular.

·       The reduction in the amount of support that had been provided by the Council.  Reference was also made to the generation of income and the increase in the cost of utilities.  It was likely that additional support would be required.  It was difficult to do any comparisons due to the exceptional circumstances that everyone had found themselves in, but it had been felt that the financial year 2019/20 figures were the most suitable for this purpose.

·       In respect of Resources, the current review had been completed and this would lead to a reduction in staffing costs in the coming year.

The Chair thanked the Interim Managing Director for this report.

RESOLVED that

the Rubicon Leisure Limited Financial Plan 2022/23 be noted.

(During the consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed which related to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).)

The Interim Managing Director of Rubicon Leisure Limited provided a verbal update in respect of the progress report.

(During the consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed which related to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in relation to labour relations matters.)

The Interim Head of Finance and Customer Service provided Members with an update in respect of the Annual Audited Accounts.

(During the consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed which related to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in relation to labour relations matters.)