Scrutiny panel to hear progress of work to outsource leisure centre management

Shropshire Council’s Safe and Confident Communities Scrutiny Committee will hear and discuss the latest progress to outsource the future management of five leisure centres at their meeting this afternoon (Wednesday 7 December 2011). 

The decision to seek a new partner to manage and operate Market Drayton Swimming Centre, Oswestry Leisure Centre, Shrewsbury Sports Village and Indoor Bowls Hall, Whitchurch Swimming Centre and The Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre in Shrewsbury was agreed by the council’s Cabinet earlier this year (16 March 2011). 

Since being advertised on the open market, the council has received 16 applications at the first stage of the tender process, which includes bids from both commercial businesses and social enterprises.  These have now been reduced to five companies, who will go through to the second detailed stage of the process. 

Councillor Joyce Barrow, Chair of Shropshire Council’s Safe and Confident Communities Scrutiny Committee, said:

“It is vitally important that the whole process of outsourcing these leisure services is scrutinised.  We need to ensure that these services continue to be of a high quality and provided at an affordable price, by a company who has the resources and knowledge to sustain, and hopefully better, the current services. 

“We will continue to monitor the progress made.  One of the key elements for outsourcing is for capital investment in improvements to the centres where needed, and options to take on other leisure centre and cultural services at a later date (subject to legal guidance).”

New running arrangements could be in place by as early as June 2012. 

These changes follow an objective, external review of how the council’s leisure services could be redesigned to provide better value for money and an improved experience for the local people who use them.