PAPER C

Purpose: For Decision

Committee:	EXECUTIVE

Date:	7 MAY 2002

Title:	WIGHT LEISURE BEST VALUE REVIEW

	PORTFOLIO HOLDER - TOURISM AND LEISURE

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

Members are invited to consider and accept the findings of the Best Value Review of its leisure services provided through Wight Leisure.

BACKGROUND

A Best Value Review of the Council’s leisure services as (or may be) provided by Wight Leisure, has been conducted in accordance with the wishes of the Executive’s meeting of 21 August 2001.

The review has challenged in some detail whether the Council should be providing these services and has sought to determine the most appropriate services to be provided in consultation with the stakeholders. Through the comparison and compete elements of best value it has also identified the best way for the Council to secure the delivery of the services to ensure continuous improvement in them.

The full review has been deposited in the Members’ room. An Executive Summary is attached to this report which also includes a comprehensive series of service improvements that have been identified through the application of the “4C’s”.

The conclusions reached by this review are that:-

· The service has demonstrated continuous improvement.

· There are key barriers to further improvement.

· The Council should provide the leisure services considered.

· The range of service provision is appropriate.

· The Council should externalise the provision of the services.

· A Not for Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) would be the most effective route to externalisation.

On the basis of these conclusions the report recommends (page 8) that delivery of the services should be externalised to a NPDO to ensure their continuous improvement.

The Executive Summary was considered by the Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Select Committee on 22^nd April 2002. The Committee accepted the conclusions and recommendations of the review.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The capital costs identified in the improvement plan are in the order of £2.3M and the revenue costs about £105,000 per annum. There are some costs still to be identified.

In the current financial year £351,000 has been approved in the capital programme with which to address some of these issues. £40,000 is also included in the annual revenue budget.

No other current budget provision is available with which to support the improvement programme.

A sum of approximately £20,000 has been set aside in the budget to meet the Council’s costs of any externalisation process.

OPTIONS

1. To accept the review’s conclusions and action its recommendation.

2. Not to accept the review’s conclusions.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee accept the findings and recommendations of the review.

Approve the externalisation of the delivery of the services to a Not for Profit Distributing Organisation.

That a further report be brought back setting out the timetable for the externalisation process.

Contact Point: John Metcalfe ( 823825

A KAYE

Strategic Director Education and Community Development

M A JARMAN