Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Joe Baker and Members were advised that Councillor Bill Hartnett was attending as his substitute.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members considered the content of the minutes of the previous meeting of the Shareholders Committee, held on 21^st February 2023.

During consideration of this item, Members noted that at the previous meeting, a request had been made for the Committee to be provided with an update at a future meeting on plans for the toilet facilities at the Arrow Valley Countryside Centre.  A request was made for officers to ensure that this update was provided at the following meeting of the Committee if possible.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Shareholders Committee held on 21^st February 2023 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’.

RESOLVED that:

Under S100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, 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 paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 of the said act, as amended.

·             Minute Item No. 5 – Rubicon Leisure Business Plan 2023/24

·             Minute Item No. 6 – Rubicon Leisure Limited Annual Budget Plan 2023/24

·             Minute Item No. 7 – Correspondence Regarding Support Services for Rubicon Leisure Limited

The Interim Director of Finance and Resources presented the Rubicon Leisure Business Plan 2023/24 for the Committee’s consideration.

The Committee was informed that the Rubicon Leisure Business Plan linked to a number of the Council’s strategic purposes.  In particular, the objectives detailed in the business plan would help to support the Council’s strategic purpose “Live Independent, Active and Healthy Lives” as well as corporate priorities relating to financial stability, sustainability and providing high quality services.  There were nine key themes in the business plan and all of these would support the Council’s strategic purposes.

There were a number of important considerations in relation to these themes, including the importance of health and safety, which was key to the effective delivery of Leisure Services.  The company’s Workforce and Engagement Strategy was also significant in relation to training and motivating staff.  In the Leisure industry, there were certain training requirements for key staff which had to be addressed as part of their continuing professional development, including the need to train and re-register lifeguards every year.

A review was in the process of being undertaken with respect to the governance structures for Rubicon Leisure Limited.  This would take into account existing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with support services and it was anticipated that the review would result in improvements to service efficiency.

The content of the Rubicon Leisure Business Plan 2023/24 demonstrated that the company had a well thought through direction of travel.  A key role of the Shareholders Committee would be to determine whether Members were happy with this proposed direction of travel for the company.

After the presentation of the report, Members discussed the content of the Rubicon Leisure Business Plan 2023/24 in detail and in doing so commented on the following matters:

·             The progress that had been achieved by Rubicon Leisure Limited since the company was introduced.

·             The remaining issues with service delivery that still needed to be addressed. 

·             Financial expenditure by the Council in recent years to support Rubicon Leisure Limited.

·             The recent appointment of a new Managing Director for Rubicon Leisure Limited and the need for the outgoing interim Managing Director to share knowledge and expertise with this new member of staff prior to his departure.

·             The targets detailed in the Rubicon Leisure Business Plan 2023/24 and whether the company was already on track in terms of aiming to deliver the goals detailed in the plan.  Officers agreed to raise this with the company.

·             The different organisations involved in managing the lake at the Arrow Valley Park and the various lines of responsibility.  The Committee was informed that the Council managed and maintained the park, Rubicon Leisure Limited maintained the countryside centre and the Sailing Club had an agreement in place with the Council in respect of use of the lake.

·             The potential for further clarification to be provided to the Shareholders Committee in respect of legal restrictions on use of the lake. 

·             The quality of the water at the Arrow Valley Lake and the impact that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Director of Finance and Resources presented Rubicon Leisure Limited’s Annual Budget Plan 2023/24 and in so doing explained that the budget plan supported the aims and objectives detailed in the Business Plan.

Following the presentation of the report, Members discussed a number of points in detail:

·             The financial position of Rubicon Leisure Limited by the date of the meeting.

·             The various capital schemes listed in the budget plan and the extent to which the Council would be expected to cover these costs.  The Committee was advised that there was likely to be a mix of expenditure covered by income and requests for funding from the Council during the financial year.

·             The need for Rubicon Leisure Limited to submit a robust business case to the Council for any capital funding requested from the authority.

·             The community centres, which Rubicon Leisure Limited managed on behalf of the Council.  Members commented that the community centres remained valuable assets for the local community.

·             The need for all Council assets, including the community centres, to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating or above by 2026. Should this not be possible to achieve, the Council would need to give consideration as to whether the authority could continue to own these assets moving forward, particularly if a significant amount of financial investment would be needed to upgrade the community centres to an appropriate standard.

RESOLVED that

the Rubicon Leisure Budget Report 2023/24, and its underlying assumptions be approved.

(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 Director of Finance and Resources presented a report concerning support services for Rubicon Leisure Limited.

(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)).