The brief

Strategic Leisure Limited (SLL) was appointed by West Lancashire District Council to assist in increasing investment in local leisure, culture and sport, developing facilities and changing the way in which different organisations work together. The Council required SLL to undertake an appraisal to;

“determine the optimum form of management for leisure centres, preparing a committee report making unambiguous recommendations on the future, preparing preparatory work and implementing a procurement exercise for the optimum option to create a mutually rewarding ‘partnership’ delivering additional benefits for the Council and local residents”

Our Approach

SLL produced an appraisal setting out management options available to the Council to deliver the most appropriate option for the future management of the service..

SLL reviewed the current performance of leisure centres in the district and visually inspected them to ascertain an indication of the need for investment. Following the review, SLL were able to provide an analysis of management models for operating the service, including a breakdown of advantages and disadvantages for each model. This information enabled SLL to outline financial differences of management options, to make recommendations for the most appropriate forms of management partner, including a procurement process, meeting the requirements of the local Council and how the relationship would work. Financial and legal implications were also examined providing a cost benefit analysis.

Project Outcomes

In the study’s second stage SLL procured the recommended management option for the service on behalf of the Council.