The Portfolio Holder, People & Places, presented the report which outlined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the leisure industry and set out a request from Sencio Community Leisure for financial assistance to mitigate financial difficulties related to Government’s temporary closure of all leisure facilities due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Chief Officer for People & Places set out that lockdown has had a serious impact on leisure, particularly on leisure trusts, who haven’t been able to realise any income to support their operations. She set out that leisure played an important part in the district’s physical and mental wellbeing and welcomed the fact that government had just made the decision to allow the re-opening of leisure centres, swimming pools and gyms on 25 July. 

She explained that the report outlined the financial position of Sencio Community Leisure Trust as a result of the current lockdown closures. She explained that the Trust had a recovery plan in place and had been proactive in trying to secure funding from other sources, notably when leisure providers are exempt from most Covid-19 support packages. Cabinet discussed the challenges facing the leisure sector and the desire to support it where reasonable and possible.

The Portfolio Holder advised that the People & Places Advisory Committee had considered the same report and held concerns.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That

a)     the request for an extension to the current payment holiday on Sencio’s loan repayments to the Council by a further 3 months to 30 September 2021 be agreed;

b)     the request from Sencio for a Council loan of up to £120,000 over the next 3 months towards essential utility costs not be agreed at this time;

c)     the Leader of the Council in consultation with Cabinet and stakeholders be requested to write to the Members of Parliament for the District setting out the challenges facing the leisure sector;

d)     the Chief Officer for People & Places be requested to write to Sencio requesting an updated plan to reopen leisure facilities within the District.