Agenda item

The Managing Director of Rubicon Leisure Limited presented the Rubicon Leisure Business Plan.

In presenting the business plan, the Managing Director highlighted that the aims and objectives supported the Council’s strategic purposes, as detailed in the Redditch Council Plan.  This included a key objective to be financially sustainable moving forward.  Rubicon Leisure Limited valued staff and aimed to invest in their development.  The company also benefitted from the contribution of many volunteers.

The company was aiming to engage more actively with customers moving forward.  The new Marketing Manager post at Rubicon Leisure Limited would be integral to achieving this aim.  Social media could also increasingly help to engage with customers and an example was provided of a recent social media post for Forge Mill Needle Museum, advertising the use of needles in a Crocodile Dundee themed manner, which had been viewed 1 million times.

There was a need for Rubicon Leisure Limited to continue to work closely with partner organisations to enhance the health and wellbeing of the local community.  This included working with the local District Collaborative.

In the long-term, Rubicon Leisure Limited required the Council to invest in the assets that the company managed on behalf of the Council, including the Abbey Stadium, Arrow Valley Countryside Centre and Palace Theatre.  This investment was required to ensure that the venues remained safe and compliant with health and safety requirements and that income levels could be maintained.

Members were advised that in future the company was aiming to produce a new 3 – 5 year business plan.  The company would aim to draft this updated business plan in line with the authority’s timeframes for producing a new Council Plan.

After the business plan had been presented, Members discussed the following points in detail:

·             The risk that aiming to increase the company’s income could come at the expense of meeting the needs of some of the more vulnerable members of society.  The Managing Director clarified that the company was aiming to maximise financial performance but not at the expense of other priorities and subsidises for services and activities would remain in place in many areas of the business.

·             The potential for additional wording to be added to the business plan to reflect the fact that the company was supposed to continue to have a public sector ethos.

·             The potential for further development of new staff through provision of apprenticeship opportunities at the company. 

·             The information included in the business plan that indicated that the waterwheel at Forge Mill Needle Museum was the only such one in the world and the extent to which this was promoted by Rubicon Leisure Limited. 

·             The workshop on stress which was due to be provided at the Boathouse by Rubicon Leisure Limited, which had recently been promoted through the social prescribing model.  Members thanked the Managing Director for this work and were asked to note that there was also due to be a Stress Awareness Week taking place at the Abbey Stadium.

RESOLVED that

Subject to reflecting the public sector ethos in the company’s priorities, the Rubicon Leisure Annual Business Plan 2024/25 be approved.

(During 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)).