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Swale Borough Council

From the Agenda for the Swale Executive 15.6.05  http://www.swale.gov.uk/dso/viewagenda.asp?uid=62 

OUTSTANDING LEISURE CENTRE DILAPIDATIONS WORKS
This report will advise Members of the current situation with regard to close down of the old leisure management contract with Leisure Connection. There are a number of outstanding issues which are mainly related to works not undertaken by Leisure Connection at the end of the contract. These works are now impeding Serco's performance and action needs to be taken by the Authority to avoid a claim from Serco (the new contractor).
From the Minutes of the Executive 15.6.05  http://www.swale.gov.uk/dso/viewminutes.asp?uid=37 

OUTSTANDING LEISURE CENTRE DILAPIDATION WORKS

The Executive considered the Joint Report of the Executive Member for Community Development and the Head of Technical Services which updated Members on the current situation with the close down of the previous contract. The Leisure Manager clarified the figures within the report, and the Borough Solicitor explained the current legal situation.

RECOMMENDED: 
(1) That the current situation to bring this matter to a favourable conclusion be noted. 

(2) That the supplementary estimate of £96,000 in the 2005/06 financial year to complete the dilapidation works at the Leisure Centres be agreed. 

(3) That during the budget setting process for the 2006/07 financial year an indicative sum of £50,000 for the replacement of the end of life air handling units at the Swallows Leisure Centre be considered. 

My application to Swale under FOI for more details on this matter was refused due to commercial confidentiality.  The reference to a "favourable" conclusion is a puzzling choice of phrase. My guess is that Council tax payers appear to be funding the best part of £96k for work that the Council thinks LC was already contracted to do, a suspicion reinforced by the council's earlier claim that "Concerns had been raised over the decreasing level of cleanliness and several areas of minor maintenance which had not been completed, despite several requests from Council Officers."  (see Lost Contracts). The favour appears to be letting LC off the hook rather than chasing them for defaulting. As ever, LCW will provide links to any other sources of information any party referred to requests. PB

The successor to LC in Swale is Serco  carried the following on their website for some time after they took over: "Council executive member for the community Cllr Gerry Lewin said 'I am sure residents will experience a major improvement in the management of leisure facilities over the coming year.'  Serco replaces Leisure Connection as the contract holders, after public criticism of levels of cleaning and maintenance at The Swallows."   

SITTINGBOURNE AREA COMMITTEE   MINUTES of the Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Swale House, Sittingbourne 16th March 2004  

From http://www.swale.gov.uk/media/html/i%2Fj%2Fsbourne%20160304%2Edoc 

  THE SWALLOWS LEISURE CENTRE  

The Head of Technical Services submitted a report on the present leisure contract at The Swallows, Sittingbourne that was requested in response to concerns expressed over the level of complaints received.  Concerns had been raised over the decreasing level of cleanliness and several areas of minor maintenance which had not been completed, despite several requests from Council Officers. 

The Head of Technical Services explained that the current leisure contract would expire in September 2004 and new contractors were being sought which might lead to short term problems prior to the commencement of the new contract.

A Member asked if the present contractor would have penalties enforced upon them if the current contractual agreement was not met and added that the new franchise holder should communicate better with the other users of The Swallows.  In response, the Executive Member for Community Development confirmed that penalties would be enforced to ensure that maintenance was carried out to an acceptable standard and that the new contract would include incentives for the operator to perform well.  He added that the lack of a Contract Monitoring Officer had not helped the current situation and that now an Officer was in post all contracts could be more closely monitored to ensure compliance.