Issue - meetings

Report ES13038

Approval was sought to revise the existing charging policy for the Bromley Environmental Education Centre at High Elms (BEECHE) and introduce charges for outdoor fitness trainers using the Borough’s parks and open spaces commercially.

Report ES13038 outlined the revised BEECHE charges and reasoning for them. It also outlined proposed annual fees to outdoor fitness trainers, according to the number of clients and either one or two sessions per week. A rational for the proposed charges was also provided.

Potential income from the revised BEECHE charges, 2013/14 was compared to 2012/13 income. Estimated income from fees/charges to outdoor fitness trainers was also provided although it was not known how many applications would be received.

A system of registration, application and checking would need to be introduced for the fitness trainers. A personal trainer would need to apply and provide accredited Fitness Industry Association (FIA) approved training qualifications, risk assessment, lesson plan, Public liability Insurance document and a signed licence/agreement upon which a permit/licence would be issued. A draft licence was appended to Report ES13038.

Subject to revenue collection being economically viable, Councillor Adams felt that charging trainers was justified given that indoor trainers are charged for similar activity in leisure centres. From example fee ranges highlighted by officer research at Appendix 2 to Report ES13038, Councillor Adams favoured examples 1 or 3. Concerning the draft “Licence to operate”, he thought this seemed watertight from a Council viewpoint and he also asked whether the Council should be discretionary on the types of parks to use for fitness activities. In response, the Licence document was considered to provide a watertight agreement between fitness operators and the Council, putting the onus on the operator. For a trainer having between four and ten clients at one session per week, it was proposed to charge £250.

Without such licensing in operation, Councillor Adams enquired whether the Council would be liable if a member of the public incurred an injury at a Council owned park. Should there be unauthorised activity, it was suggested the Council would not be liable. Football teams were expected to pay for public liability insurance.

Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher suggested that enforcing a charging system could cost as much as the revenue obtained. Such a watertight licensing arrangement might also cause difficulties for some trainers and be off-putting. She asked how it was proposed to challenge individuals who might simply be a group of friends training. It was indicated that Ward Security personnel would speak to the individuals; the system was not proposed to be onerous and it was necessary for administration to be cost effective. It was proposed to report back to Members on how the system was working. The Chairman also highlighted a role for the Friends of Parks.

Councillor Grainger sought to understand the benefits trainers might receive from registering rather than operating unlicensed at different locations, including open land. He was also concerned that groups of joggers might be mistaken for trainers and clients.

It was suggested  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59