Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:

 

The report requested authority to commence the preliminary stages of an EU procurement process to invite and evaluate expressions of interest for progression to tender on the full specification from July 2012 for the running of the City Councils Leisure Management portfolio for October 2013 onwards.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Art Sport and Public Places:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved:

 

To approve:

              i.      Authority for commencement of stage one of a procurement exercise to advertise a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) to the open market place.

To note:

            ii.      The project plan and timetable for a full EU procurement exercise for the Leisure Management contract, culminating in the approval of the specification to tender at Community Services Scrutiny Committee in June 2012.  

 

          iii.      A plan for consultation with stakeholders and Councillors over relevant aspects of the specification.

           iv.      The feedback obtained from the recent survey of the Cherry Hinton Village Centre, which will inform and input into the specification.

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

Leisure management has been externalised for nearly 20 years in Cambridge and the current Leisure management contract held by SLM Ltd will expire at the end of September 2013. 

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

 

Not applicable

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee received a report from the Sports and Recreation Manager regarding the Leisure Management Contract.

 

Councillor Dryden suggested that the Localism Act would allow local community groups to tender for this sort of contract and asked if the decision could be delayed to allow the time for this. The Executive Councillor responded by stating that this part of the Localism Act has not yet been brought into effect and the position on tenders by community groups was not yet clear. The existing contract had already been extended once and it would not be possible to extend it a second time.

 

In response to members’ questions, the Officer confirmed that the Village Centre was viewed primarily as a sports venue with limited community rooms. The consultation process would address the community use of the venue.

 

He further confirmed that Carbon Reduction targets would be embedded in the contract. This would be linked to management fees and would be included in the contract specifications.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and endorsed the recommendations in the report by 6 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor for Arts, Sport and Public Places approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

N/A