Westminster Council has extended its leisure contract with Everyone Active, aiming to deliver savings and service improvements through an agency model, and is addressing air conditioning concerns in leisure centres.
At a Cabinet meeting on Monday, councillors approved a three-year extension to the leisure contract with Everyone Active. The extension follows a review committed to through Fairer Westminster, which aimed to ensure better quality of services for residents and visitors, value for money for the council, and improved access to leisure centres, according to Councillor Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, in the Public reports pack.
Councillor Sanquest introduced the report, highlighting that the council sought to maximise revenue, secure benefits for residents, and drive improvement in facilities through the contract. She advised that through three year extension and an agency model, savings will be achieved and service improvements delivered.
The new contract includes a £100,000 Community Access Fund, which will be match-funded by the council, additional community offers like free swimming and community group access, and £2 million for facility upgrades, also matched by the council.
Councillor Aicha Less, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection, raised concerns about the lack of air conditioning in leisure centres, noting that this deters people from using the facilities. Councillor Sanquest acknowledged the issue and assured that while there has been no decision about budget spending yet it would be taken on board during budget discussions.
Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, endorsed the contract extension, calling it a pragmatic and low-risk solution.
