Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 4 November 2021, be

received and approved as a correct record.

A representative from Everyone Active (sports and leisure management) will be attending the meeting to deliver a presentation regarding their Covid-19 recovery process.

The Chairman welcomed everyone present to the meeting and introduced Lorenzo Clark, the Ashfield Contract Manager for Everyone Active, who was in attendance at the meeting to deliver a presentation to Members regarding their Covid-19 recovery process in relation to the Council’s leisure facilities.

To commence the presentation, Members were given a brief overview of the actions taken at the start of the pandemic when the Government ordered leisure sites nationally, to be closed on 20 March 2020.  Following Government guidance and Ashfield District Council guidelines, the centres went into soft hibernation with slowed ventilation and pool temperatures being dropped to agreed levels.

During the first lockdown Everyone Active held large discussions with the organisation nationally to stay abreast of the ever-changing COVID landscape and it was acknowledged that the support from Ashfield Council officers throughout every stage of the pandemic had been absolutely excellent (the same period having also included the tendering and award process for renewal of the leisure contract).

Many of the Everyone Active staff went through the furlough process and ICT provision and communication channels were cut off apart from with employees and clubs/main users to circulate messages and updates as required.  A decision was also taken to donate the majority of the food and beverage stock being held at the leisure centres to foodbanks to ensure it wasn’t wasted and could be put to good use elsewhere.

Once the Government announced that leisure facilities could start to open their doors again, Everyone Active worked with partners to develop an agreed approach post lockdown.  Discussions were held with the Council to ascertain which elements of service provision could be delivered under the new regime with many fitness activities moving online.  Opening times were also restricted in the beginning to enable the facilities to manage all the additional Covid-19 distancing measures.  It was noted that the ice rink at Lammas Leisure Centre remained shut for the majority of the pandemic due to additional restrictions arising from current gaming legislation.

During the lockdown, Focus Groups consisting of Everyone Active Managers considered the impact of Covid-19 on service specific operations and developed new procedures and guidance to help staff with managing centres once they reopened.  Site risk assessments were carried out and Site Reopening Plans outlined the following:

·         One-way systems

·         Booking systems

·         Timelines for opening

·         Local marketing and communication plans

·         Cleaning requirements

·         Use of fogging machines

·         Continued closure of change/shower facilities

·         Social distancing measures.

Having to operate on reduced capacity, users were required to book online to use the facilities, particularly the gym equipment and group exercise activities.  Swimming pools reopened but lanes were widened with a maximum of 10 users per lane.  No swimming competitions were allowed to take place during this time.

PR plans were put into place for all centre reopenings and these included social media testimonials from customers and clubs and ongoing positive messages regarding implementation of social distancing measures and creating safe environments.  A message from the Board of Directors thanking customers and colleagues  ...  view the full minutes text for item CP.11