Agenda item

The Executive Member for Wellbeing submitted a report that presented the annual review of East Herts Council’s fifteen-year leisure contract with Sport and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM) trading as Everyone Active (EA).

Members were advised that the 15-year contract, which commenced in 2020, was continuing to deliver leisure and wellbeing services across the Council’s leisure facilities. The report highlighted a number of key developments during the previous year, including improvements at both Hartham Leisure Centre and Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre. These included refurbishment of the changing village and the introduction of a Reformer Pilates studio at Hartham, together with replacement gym equipment and the introduction of a virtual aqua fitness programme at Grange Paddocks.

The Committee noted that both centres had continued to adapt their fitness programmes through a combination of virtual and instructor-led classes to meet customer demand.

Members were also informed of the contractor’s continued partnership working with organisations including the Alzheimer’s Society, Herts Sports Partnership, WeightWatchers and local Primary Care Networks, supporting residents’ access to health and wellbeing opportunities across the district.

The Committee then received a presentation from representatives of Everyone Active providing further details of the contract’s performance during the year.

Members were advised of a range of community wellbeing initiatives delivered throughout the year, including programmes aimed at children, older adults, health and wellbeing groups, and new and expectant parents. Members also received details of capital investment undertaken at Hartham Leisure Centre and Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre, including gym improvements, changing village refurbishment works and the introduction of Reformer Pilates facilities.

The Committee thanked officers for the presentation and welcomed the positive performance and community outcomes achieved during the year. Members welcomed the positive report and commended the operator on the overall performance of the facilities.

In response to questions regarding a number of key performance indicators shown as underperforming, the representatives from Everyone Active explained that some year-on-year comparisons reflected historic data from four sites compared with the current operation of two sites.

Members were advised that some indicators appeared negative despite strong performance at Hartham and Grange Paddocks. It was reported that, when considered in isolation, both facilities were performing positively, with some impact on swimming participation arising from the closure of the former dual-use sites.

The Committee questioned the recent refurbishment of the Grange Paddocks gym and sought clarification on the business case for the investment. Members were advised that gym equipment was typically refreshed every four to five years and that the popularity of the facility had justified investment after four years.

Members were advised that additional works had also been undertaken to increase group exercise capacity and introduce new fitness facilities in response to customer demand and benchmarking against other leisure centres.

Members discussed the reported reduction in swimming lesson participation following the closure of Fanshawe and Leventhorpe swimming pools. The operator advised that alternative places had been offered to affected swimmers and that the majority of those transferring were younger or less confident swimmers.

In response to questions regarding swimming competency and water safety, the Committee heard that the operator worked with the Royal Life Saving Society during Drowning Prevention Week and delivered programmes promoting water safety, including Float to Live techniques and other drowning prevention initiatives.

The Committee also discussed customer satisfaction levels. The operator explained that refurbishment and improvement works could temporarily affect customer satisfaction due to disruption, but that such investment was intended to improve the long-term customer experience. Members were assured that customer concerns were monitored and addressed where possible.

Members welcomed the operator's focus on health and wellbeing initiatives. The operator reported positive outcomes from community outreach work, including seated exercise programmes that had subsequently encouraged participation in other activities such as swimming.

The Committee raised a number of questions relating to equality and inclusion. In response to concerns about the impact of cashless facilities on accessibility, the operator advised that equality assessments had not identified a significant adverse impact, although it was acknowledged that cashless payment arrangements could present difficulties for some individuals.

Members sought clarification regarding a reported 60% year-on-year increase in attendance by people with disabilities. The operator advised that this reflected a combination of improved data collection, growth in exercise referral schemes, and the introduction of specialist programmes, including cancer prehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation sessions.

A concern was raised regarding a statistic which appeared to indicate that only one of twenty senior managers was female. The operator confirmed that the figure was incorrect and resulted from a reporting error. The correct position was stated to be approximately an equal gender split within the senior management team.

The Committee noted the report and welcomed the continued strong performance of the leisure facilities.

Councillor Deffley proposed, and Councillor Deering seconded, a motion that the leisure contract presentation be noted and Audit and Governance Committee have reviewed and received the Annual Leisure Contract Performance Report (2025) as set by the service leisure provider.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the leisure contract presentation be noted; and

(B)   Audit and Governance Committee review and receive the Annual Leisure Contract Performance Report (2025) as set by the service leisure provider.