Issue - meetings

The report looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of leisure and cultural services in Bournemouth.

It is RESOLVED that Cabinet :-

(a)          Approves in principle to recommend to Council a package of financial support for BH Live in 2020/21, to assist them in managing the exceptional impact of COVID-19;

(b)          Approves that a working group be set up, the makeup of which be determined by the Leader and the Chairman of the O & S Board to review the support which is appropriate to be provided to BH Live including consideration of alternative options to those recorded within the report;

(c)          Approves that any support package is subject to conditions to be finalised by the working group including those as set out within the reports and also including the requirement to ensure that BH Live use best endeavours to seek funding from all available alternative providers in preference to seeking funding from the Council;

(d)          Approves that consideration is given specifically to the terms of any loan provided by HSBC that may impact upon the council;

(e)          Agrees in principle to recommend to Council the outcomes of the working group’s deliberations;

(f)           Approves that external legal support commence the drafting of the legal agreement; and

(g)          If necessary in order to protect the interests of the Council supports the Chief Executive in exercising his delegated authority to make an urgent decision to determine the package of aid to be provided to BH Live. This decision to be taken following consultation with the Leader, relevant portfolio holders, the working group, chief finance officer and monitoring officer.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

Closure of these facilities would have a detrimental effect on the ability to deliver the Councils’ corporate plan priorities and in particular on the well-being agenda.

The financial support package recognises the exceptional circumstances brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the severe impact that recent facility closures have had on BH Live.

The aim of the package is to help ensure that BH Live can continue to deliver services in the future and avoid the likely service disruption and significant cost to the Council should they become insolvent.

Councils across the UK are facing similar issues and costs in supporting leisure providers to deliver facilities and services which have a significant impact on the local economy, health & well-being and culture. It is estimated that up to half of all public leisure facilities could close by the end of the year without support and a significant proportion of charitable trusts have very tight operating margins and only small cash reserves to keep them afloat without fee incomes. (LGA July 2020).

This item was restricted by virtue of paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'M' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.