Decision details

Members considered the Freedom Leisure report presented by Councillor Clark and Councillor Boden.

Councillor Seaton said it is encouraging to see the progress that Freedom Leisure has made since reopening, which is better than anticipated. He commented that leisure centre car parks are usually full of cars and as we are developing a cycling/walking strategy he wondered if there is an opportunity through Freedom Leisure, even for a limited period, to encourage people to cycle or walk to the centres to promote the overall strategy for health and wellbeing within Fenland. Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Seaton for his sensible suggestion and asked that he take this back to officers to feedback to the County Council and Freedom Leisure, with the assistance of Councillor Clark.

Cabinet AGREED that:

3.1       Fenland District Council (“FDC”) provides the Phase V financial relief to       Freedom Leisure set out in these recommendations.

3.2       FDC defers the monthly management fee of £38,000 per month for      July 2021 – September 2021, at a cost to the Council of £114,000,       repayable in accordance with the terms set out at paragraph 3.4 of          these recommendations.

3.3       FDC continues to support Freedom Leisure on an open book basis by           providing financial support from the remaining NLRF grant. The current   estimated cost of operational support for the period is £47,178.

3.4       Repayment of the £114,000 described in paragraph 3.2 of these             recommendations shall become payable through an annual deduction           of 75% of any profit generated in excess of the levels predicted in the       LOBTA (Leisure Operators Base Trading Account). This is a change       from the current 50/50 profit share and will be subject to the          performance of the business over the contract period.

3.5       The Monitoring Officer and s.151 Officer are authorised to put in place          all necessary arrangements to give effect to the agreed         recommendations to include entry into the necessary legal   arrangements and expenditure of the amounts described from existing         budget provisions.