The Assistant Director of Leisure, Libraries and Community Engagement and the Major Projects Lead presented the report on behalf of the Director of Neighbourhoods. The report set out and sought support for the general direction of travel for leisure services including strategic objectives in terms of funding, facility priorities, timelines and projected outcomes to guide decision-making over the next 10 years. This was to ensure that the service met the needs of the community, whilst delivering value for money.

The Major Projects Lead explained that the landscape of leisure provision had shifted in recent years, influenced by changing demographic trends, increased demand for health and wellbeing activities and advancements in technology. Financial pressures on local authorities had necessitated a more sustainable and innovative approach to service delivery, and so officers needed to rethink the way that services were delivered. Additionally, the council’s facilities were ageing, mixed between 30 and 120 years old, and significant investment was needed. The dedicated, knowledgeable staff had achieved fantastic results on innovation without cutting corners on quality.

The report gave members an overview of the current state of the Council’s leisure facilities, the challenges and opportunities identified, and the roadmap for transformation.

Members asked officers for the justification of focussing primarily on Birkenhead within the recommendations, and raised concerns that the indicative timelines set out in the report were too long. Members also asked for updates on progress relating to performance improvement of the service, as well as requests for information relating to data collection at leisure centres and measuring footfall and what might be attracting residents to these sites.

In response to comments, the Assistant Director explained that the Birkenhead Regeneration Masterplan was the most live regeneration project at the time, with the proposed public sector health & wellbeing hub complimenting other developments in the area. The timelines set out in the report were indicative, and projects would be reactive as funding was found. He explained that following a review into the service, officers were taking proactive measures to address the recommendations on performance.

The Assistant Director agreed to circulate information relating to footfall data and national statistics that could show that people were moving back to local authority facilities, away from private facilities.

Resolved – That the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee:

1.  Approved the proposed Direction of Travel for Leisure Service Sites as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

2.  Authorised the Director of Neighbourhood Services and Interim Director of Regeneration and Place to commission design and development works as necessary, and which result from initial investigative / feasibility work associated with proposed Public Sector Health & Wellbeing Hub in Birkenhead, thereby supporting the principles of the Birkenhead Town Centre Masterplan.