Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Storey’s Field Centre (SFC) on the Eddington Development in the Northwest of the City, opened to the public in February 2018 and has been managed and operated by the City Council under a contract for services with the Storey’s Field Centre Trust (SFCT) since June 2016.

 

At some point the intended model for operating the new centre was changed from direct management by the Trust, to a contract for services. It was agreed that the Council would, in the first instance, enter a five-year services contract to operate the centre, partly to contribute community centre management expertise, but also to support establishment of the new centre to be able to meet the needs of a new community in a key city growth area. It was always the Council’s intention for this to be a medium-term arrangement, to support the newly formed Trust until a centre manager and team had been recruited, trained and a centre programme had been established.

 

At the request of SFCT the council’s contract for services has been extended twice, to give the Trust time to review the future direction of the centre, and to complete a procurement process to appoint a new operator. The current contract for services is due to end 31st March 2023.

 

SFCT undertook an open procurement process in July 2022 to seek a new operator, however, this was unsuccessful.

 

The recommendation made in the Officer’s report was for the council to make a further extension to its contract for services with SFCT for 12 months until 31st March 2024, for the following reasons:

a.    For SFCT to assess the first procurement process and have sufficient time to complete a second tender process if required.

b.    For SFCT to review and agree the future direction for the centre.

c.    To give the SFCT staff team greater certainty regarding their ongoing employment.

 

At the end of the contract term on 31st March 2024, the Council Community Services team would focus on working collaboratively with SFCT and The University to ensure a joined-up programme across community facilities in the local area and that requirements in the Section 106 agreement were met.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Food Justice and Community Development

      i.         Agreed to extend the councils contract for management services if required by Storey’s Field Centre Trust (SFCT), until 31 March 2024.

    ii.         Noted that the council’s management and operation of Storey’s Field Centre will end 31 March 2024 and that eight Council employed posts may then transfer under a TUPE arrangement, to a new operator.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategic Project Manager.

 

The Strategic Project Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         The City Council were working closely with Cambridge University to reach a sustainable future for the Storey’s Field Centre.

    ii.         The City Council were working with Storey’s Field Centre Trust due to s106 obligations. No details had been given about a new contract operator.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.