Money-saving changes at Derby Arena and Springwood Leisure Centre
Derby Arena and the city’s Springwood Leisure Centre could be under new management as financially-hit Derby City Council looks to make crucial savings.
A plan is in place for the council to appoint a new operator for the leisure venues at Pride Park and Oakwood in a transfer which could save the council hundreds of thousands of pounds in the long term.
Any deal could also involve the management transfer of Café 42 inside Derby Arena, the Orangery and kiosks at Markeaton Park and Waterside Café and community and sports facilities at Alvaston Park.
The city council’s Labour cabinet will be making a big decision about the future of these venues at an important meeting next week, scheduled for Wednesday, November 13.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the council whether the proposed changes would affect existing staff. Ndukwe Onuoha, cabinet member for leisure said should an external operator be appointed, “staff will likely be transferred to the new operator with their employment and terms and conditions protected”.
It comes just weeks after it was reported the city’s council’s ability to deliver frontline services was at “breaking point” with the authority’s forecast budget overspend at the time reported to be almost £10m.
The council had admitted it was facing “significant financial strain” and will maintain strict controls on spending and recruitment, while it continues to find “innovative ways to deliver good and cost-effective services”.
The council has carried out a review on how its residents can continue to access leisure facilities with the aim of making savings. The council says the review has concluded “that outsourcing could provide financial savings while maintaining a high level of service for customers”.
The local authority says having Everyone Active operate the new Moorways Sports Village complex has “proved successful”.
Under the proposed new operating model, the primary focus of Derby Arena would be as a national, regional and local sporting venue, as the city’s new Becketwell Live performance venue opens in 2025.
A full report into the proposal ahead of next week’s cabinet meeting shows that the council could save an annual figure of between £75,772 and £1,169,746 by changing the management structure of its leisure facilities.
The savings that would be delivered by transferring the operation of leisure and catering facilities will be determined through the procurement process. The full procurement and appointment process is expected to take at least 18 months – so any potential changes won’t be happening soon.
Councillor Onouha said: “We understand the importance of these amenities to our residents and are committed to finding a solution that allows us to maintain them, even in challenging financial times. Moorways Sports Village is a shining example of how this can be achieved, and we’re hopeful we can replicate this success across the city.”
He added: “As part of ongoing work to manage the council’s challenging financial situation, a detailed review of leisure services concluded that outsourcing leisure and catering facilities could provide financial savings while maintaining a high level of service for customers. This approach has already proved successful at Moorways Sports Village, which is operated by Everyone Active.
“All staff have been made aware of the proposals and we will be working closely with affected staff and appropriate trade union representatives throughout the process. If an external operator is appointed, staff will likely be transferred to the new operator with their employment and terms and conditions are protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) 2006 (TUPE) regulations. This will include sick pay and leave, annual leave and preserving your length of continuous service.”