Invitees:

Cllr PJ White – Cabinet Member Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing

Susan Cooper – Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing

Andrew Thomas – Group Manager Sports and Physical Activity

Simon Gwynne - Partnership Manager HALO

Scott Rolfe - Chief Executive Halo

The Group Manager-Sport, Play and Active Wellbeing introduced Simon Gwynne, Partnership Manager HALO and Scott Rolfe, Chief Executive HALO to the Committee. The HALO representatives then presented a report informing the Committee of the end of year performance of Halo Leisure Ltd with regard to the eight leisure centres and swimming pools they managed on behalf of the Council within the Healthy Living Partnership Programme. The report also advised the Committee of the service objectives set for 2016/17 and the areas of focus within the service development plan. 

The report provided detail on the fourth annual year of performance and the objectives identified for year five of the contract. There were 11 years remaining of the original 15 year contract. The completion of the capital works supported the achievement of performance targets including increased levels of participation, improved customer experience and investment into assets. The report also covered the three corporate priorities and how HALO was working to respond to them.

In partnership with Public Health Wales, the National Exercise Referral Scheme successfully supported 1,186 people to access services including people with chronic conditions. The “over 60” Free Swimming initiative continued to achieve the highest participation rates in Wales with 83,000 visits. This supported the loneliness and isolation reduction targets of the Ageing Well plan for Bridgend.

HALO supported social services by providing 214 looked after children with free membership to leisure facilities with evidence suggesting 86% were regularly making use of this support. The Access to Leisure programme supported the removal of price as a barrier with 1962 people making use of the support.

The partnership contributed to achieving financial efficiencies linked to the medium term financial strategy with further reductions expected over the next three years.

Halo Leisure continued to coordinate the aquatic development programmes with 100% of primary schools now engaged in the intensive schools swimming model.

Recruitment and retention of membership was a core business target and during 2015/16 there were 12,157 members representing 12% growth from the previous year.           

Positive results were received following a staff survey and HALO Leisure remained a significant employer of a workforce that included 278 people and 123 full time equivalents. It had also developed an Apprenticeship programme and currently there were two apprentices in place with plans to commence support for two additional posts within Bridgend. 

Members noted that an Advisory Panel was in place with representation including Public Health Wales, Sport Wales and the Chair of the Community, Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee and compared the arrangement to the one in place for Porthcawl Marina where there was no Local Member representation on the Harbour Board. Members were advised that their comments were noted however this was an advisory body and not part of the board structure and no decisions were taken apart from where there was a surplus on a contract.

The Committee referred to the National Exercise Referral Scheme and asked for further information on how it linked to the outdoors particularly when the scheme had been completed. The Group Manager-Sport, Play and Active Wellbeing Activity explained that this point had been recognised at both local and national level and that in order to cope with demand, other options such as this had to be explored.      

The Cabinet Member, Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing explained that within the Llynfi Valley, LV20 had been set up. He chaired the Physical Activity and Wellbeing Group which worked closely with HALO regarding outdoor activity.

The Committee requested further information regarding the Ageing Well plan. They were advised that the plan was aimed at older people in Wales particularly men over 60 and encouraged building networks including swimming and other activities. Staff had been trained in different areas and there were innovative new plans including support from Community Transport. Staff had also been given dementia training.

Members were pleased with the number of Looked After Children taking up free membership to leisure facilities.  The Committee asked to see a breakdown in the numbers of Looked After Children that had taken up the free membership offer and asked for further information on how often they used the facilities and what activities they participated in.  Officers responded that they could not supply the information at the time and would send to Members after the meeting

The Committee asked how HALO were promoting the message that price was not a barrier to participation for disadvantaged groups. Members were advised that the website promoted the message and numbers had increased as a result of this as well as providing a broader range of activities

The Chief Executive HALO confirmed that swimming badge schemes were still run for primary school children in addition to the intensive block bookings and also junior learn to swim schemes were well publicised. The 12% increase in membership covered corporate, individual and family membership.

Members commented that other authorities were closing down leisure facilities and that BCBC were fortunate to be in this position.  

The Committee asked for further information regarding the long term absences recorded and how they were being managed.  The Chief Executive HALO explained that most incidents of long term sickness were unique but if repeated, staff were sent for occupational assessments. Members congratulated HALO on the average of 6.5 days per FTE even though this was an increase on the previous year.

Members requested further information of staff on casual contracts, to include a breakdown of how many staff have them, what hours on average they work and at what times of the year and what positions they include. The Chief Executive HALO explained that they tried to avoid zero contracts unless it suited staff and that most of their casual workers had full time jobs elsewhere.  He added that the casual workers were usually swim/gym instructors that worked on a seasonal basis

The Committee requested further information regarding what happened to the staff following completion of the apprenticeship scheme. Members were advised that HALO only recruited an apprentice where they could guarantee a job at the end, subject to performance.   

Members asked for information regarding the net promoter score. They were advised that this was an evaluation tool popular in the retail sector used to evaluate how likely a person was to recommend services to other people. It allowed benchmarking and was a way of highlighting areas that needed to be developed such as Pyle Leisure Centre. Members requested further information on the improvements needed to Pyle Swimming Pool and the reasons behind their low net promoter score and how the concerns were being addressed. Officers agreed to circulate this to Members after the meeting.  Members also asked to be notified about any changes to services such as closures before work commenced so that they had the information available if contacted by residents.

Members asked for further information on the Summary of Accidents report in that there were two reported incidents in Maesteg.  Members requested information on whether these were staff or customer related incidents and what they specifically related to. 

Members thanked HALO and the officers for the update.

Conclusions

Members welcomed the report and thanked representatives from HALO and staff in the Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate for the comprehensive and informative report to the Committee.  Members wished to congratulate all those involved in the delivery of the contract and hoped the high standards would continue. 

Members also welcomed the apprenticeship scheme, whereby it was confirmed by Officers, that upon successful completion of apprenticeship there was a guaranteed suitable offer of employment.

Further Information

The Committee asked to see a breakdown in the numbers of Looked After Children that have taken up the free membership offer and asked for further information on how often they use the facilities and what activities they participate in.

Members requested further information of staff on casual contracts, to include a breakdown of how many staff have them, what hours on average they work and at what times of the year and what positions they include.

Members asked for further information on the Summary of Accidents report in that there were two reported incidents in Maesteg.  Members would like information on whether these were staff or customer related incidents and what they specifically related to. 

Members requested further information on the improvements needed to Pyle Swimming Pool and the reasons behind their low net promoter score and how the concerns were being addressed.