Agenda item

The Managing Director of Rubicon Leisure Limited presented the Quarter 2 Performance Monitoring Report for the 2024/25 financial year.

The Committee was advised that services were performing well.  Many venues managed by Rubicon Leisure Limited were benefiting from the enhanced food and beverage offer that was now available to customers.  This included a positive impact from the introduction of a food and beverage offer at Forge Mill Needle Museum.

The services and activities available to the local community that were provided by Rubicon Leisure Limited had increased.  Communications in respect of this offer had also been enhanced, with improvements having been made to the content of the company’s website.

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

·             The positive impact of the approach that had been adopted to managing the company on the performance of Rubicon Leisure Limited.  Members were asked to note that this was due to a team effort by all staff.

·             The need for the Committee’s thanks to be communicated to staff employed by Rubicon Leisure Limited for their hard work.

·             The valuable contribution that was made by volunteers, particularly at the Palace Theatre and Forge Mill Needle Museum.

·             The potential for a recognition night dedicated to these volunteers to be held to provide an opportunity for thanks to be communicated to the volunteers.

·             The volunteer handbook that was being developed by Rubicon Leisure Limited to help volunteers make the most of their time volunteering with the company.

·             The constructive impact that participation in sporting and leisure activities could have on people’s health.  Members commented that the NHS could benefit from the activities and services provided by Rubicon Leisure Limited as these had a positive preventative impact.

·             The 13 different health interventions that were delivered at the Abbey Stadium.

·             The difficulties in terms of clarifying the financial performance of the company due to the challenges that had been created by problems with the Tech1 finance system.  Members noted that the report could only currently include information in relation to income as a consequence of these issues.

·             The main financial costs that needed to be covered by the company, which included staffing and utilities.

·             The main sources of income in the Leisure industry nationally.  Officers clarified that sporting activities tended to attract income whilst cultural services tended to be delivered at cost.  The facilities managed by Rubicon Leisure Limited reflected these national trends.

·             The reduction in the level of subsidy that the company required from the Council compared to previous years.  Members were advised that this was approximately £500,000 per year by the date of the meeting.

·             The extent to which it was unusual for there to be so many leisure and cultural assets in a Borough equivalent to the size of Redditch.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

(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)).