Children, Education and Communities Policy and Scrutiny Committee	21 July 2022
Report of the Assistant Director of Customer and Communities

Annual update report: Libraries and Leisure Facilities

Summary

1. This report is providing members with an annual update from Explore Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited (Explore) who operate the Council’s libraries and archives service and from Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) who operate the Council’s leisure and stadium facilities.

Background

2. Leisure Facilities: GLL is a charitable social enterprise which entered a Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) contract with the Council for 13 years on 16 November 2017 and currently operate five facilities:

·   Energise Leisure Centre(Large and small swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, large fitness gym, large sports hall, dance studio, spin studio, climbing wall, crèche, café, outdoor tennis courts and full size synthetic pitch).

·   Yearsley Swimming Pool (Edwardian 50 yard swimming pool)

·   Burnholme Sports Centre (Large sports hall, fitness gym, dance studio and spin studio, outdoor grass sports pitches and synthetic sports pitch).

·   The LNER Community Stadium (8,500 all seater stadium and associated facilities).

·   York Leisure Centre (3 pools, sports hall with viewing, clip and climb, large fitness suite and dance/spin studios, café, outdoor synthetic sports pitch and play park).

3. Libraries and Archives: Explore Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited (Explore) is an independent Industrial and Provident Mutual organisation which entered a service delivery contract with the Council for 15 years on 1 April 2019 and currently operate:

·   York Explore: the city centre flagship facility where all services are available including the Archive & Local History Centre

·   Explore Library Learning Centres:  Acomb Library, Clifton Library and The Centre@Burnholme in Tang Hall

·   Explore Gateways: Smaller community libraries are located at; Bishopthorpe, Copmanthorpe, Dringhouses, Dunnington, Fulford, Haxby & Wigginton, Huntington, New Earswick, Poppleton, Strensall and York Stadium  

·   Virtual Libraries: E-library services including; E-books, E-magazines & newspapers and online reference library

·   Reading Cafes: Homestead Park, Hungate and Rowntree Park

·   Mobile Library: One large vehicle covering the smaller settlements around the edges of York on a two week timetable.    

Performance Management Arrangements  

4. As part of the new contractual arrangements for both Explore and GLL there is a performance management framework that requires them to report formally to the Council quarterly against a set framework.  Each service has a service specification with performance measures around availability of services, required outcomes and where required, measurements. 

5. The performance and monitoring framework also acts to financially penalise poor performance or non-compliance, as well as rewarding over achievements. 

6. An annual report is also a requirement of the contract and to present this to the Council, so as a minimum going forward this will provide scrutiny members with an annual update of both contracts.

Options    

7. This report is for information and there are no options to consider.

Council Plan

8. Explore and GLL contributes to a number of corporate priorities including the aim of placing “Good health and wellbeing” and “Safe communities and culture for all” at the heart of their service planning to ensure that all residents, particularly the least advantaged, can access reliable services and community facilities.

Implications

9. Financial: The Council makes an annual management fee payment to both Explore and GLL under the terms of the contract.  The management fee in 2021/22 to GLL was £875k and Explore £2.46m.

10. The report has no implications relating to: Human Resources, Equalities, Legal, Crime and Disorder, Information Technology, Property.

Risk Management

11. This report is for information and there are no risks to consider.

Recommendations

12. That members comment upon the activities of the Explore and GLL update reports.

Reason:  To support the Council’s role in performance management of the library and leisure service contract.

Contact Details

Author:	Chief Officer Responsible for the report:
Andrew Laslett Strategic Services Manager Customer & Communities Tel No. 553370 Sarah Garbacz Chief Operating Officer Explore Paul Bickle Partnership Manager GLL	Charlie Croft Assistant Director Customer & Communities
	Report Approved	ü	Date	11/07/2022
Specialist Implications Officer(s) None
Wards Affected					All	ü
For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

Executive meeting 21 June 2018 – Item 7. The Library and Archives Service: Procurement of Operator Report

Executive meeting 9 September 2014 – Item 32. Community Stadium & Leisure Facilities Update report

Annexes

Annex A: Explore Report

Annex B: GLL Report

Abbreviations

Explore      Explore Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited

GLL            Greenwich Leisure Limited