Friday 09 November 2012
Culture and Leisure Board Members have this week visited seven UK council sports and recreation centres, as the Department considers the future operation for Beau Sejour and Footes Lane.
Contracting with a specialist leisure operator to run Beau Sejour and Footes Lane is among the potential options to deliver cost savings identified in the financial transformation programme, which aims to reduce States spending by £31 million a year.
The intention is to agree a 10‐year management contract with a specialist leisure operator. In common with established arrangements in the UK, under the terms of the contract, Beau Sejour and Footes Lane will continue to be run for the benefit of the local community as affordable public access facilities. The majority of prices will continue to be controlled by the States and the provision of all existing sports will be protected for the duration of the contract.
On the understanding that the quality and scope of provision can be safeguarded - and cost savings achieved, the Policy Council has given its full endorsement to the proposed approach, and Culture & Leisure has been tasked with reviewing the options. It plans to go out to tender to find an operator, and a recommendation will then be presented to the States for a final decision.
During this week's fact‐finding visit, Members of Culture and Leisure have been to a number of local council facilities where the operation of the facilities has been outsourced, i.e. no longer run directly by a government department.
They have met operators, local council officers, politicians and staff in the centres, and experienced first‐hand how successful leisure centre outsourcing has been in the UK over the past 20 years.
Issued by: Adrian Lewis, Senior Responsible Officer for the project
E‐mail: adrian.lewis@gov.gg.
