The Portfolio Holder for People & Places presented the report which proposed an update to the Cabinet decision made on 15 December 2020 (Minute 157) relating to the formal request from Sevenoaks Leisure Limited t/a Sencio Community Leisure (Sencio) Board of Trustees for financial assistance to mitigate current financial difficulties related to the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent recovery period.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer – People & Places set out that the Government had moved Kent into Tier 4 restrictions on 20 December 2020, and had remained in this tier following a review on 30 December 2020. On 4 January 2021, England was placed into a national lockdown, resulting in the enforced closure of leisure centres and golf courses which had therefore impacted on the Cabinet decision made in December 2020. As a result, Sencio was unable to reopen its leisure centres on 2 January 2021 as per that Cabinet decision. It was therefore proposed that the Cabinet decision be updated to reflect current restrictions.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved:  That

a)     the report be noted; 

b)     the Cabinet decision (15 December 2020) be updated to reflect England being placed into a national lockdown;

c)     the final two grant payments of £100,000 to Sencio be reduced to £75,000 per month, paid in January and February 2021, which would cover the monthly expenditure incurred by Sencio during the enforced closure and ensure the Council’s buildings are maintained and essential monitoring checks, payments to utilities and suppliers and associated staffing costs are covered. If Kent moves into a lower tier enabling the immediate reopening of leisure centres, the grant payment would be reinstated to the original monthly grant allocation of £100,000 for the remaining period;

d)     the revised decision (c above) remain conditional on Sencio reopening its leisure centres as soon as is permitted in line with Government guidance and engaging in and supporting the consultancy work to be presented to Cabinet in March 2021;

e)     any grant be funded from the General Fund Reserve. The General Fund Reserve balance to then be reinstated by transferring the same amount from the Budget Stabilisation Fund.