Issue - meetings

Report DRR15/094

In accordance with contractual arrangements between the Council and Mytime at the point of transfer of the services and the updated agreement dated 1 November 2011, Mytime submitted its Annual Report for 2014/15 for Member consideration.  

The report outlined Mytime’s achievements for the year and previewed it’s future spending proposals from the Investment Fund, along with their 2016 pricing review.  In particular, Members were requested to consider the release of £1.51m from the current Investment Fund to upgrade facilities as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.

The Chairman extended a warm welcome to, Marg Mayne, Matthew Roberts, Alan Yardley and Keith Sykes, representatives from Mytime Active.  The Chairman commended MyTime for producing an excellent and informative report, but was disappointed to note the lack of detailed financial information on investment figures for Bromley. 

Ms Mayne outlined the progress achieved and work undertaken during the year.  The importance of physical activity to reduce obesity and enhance health was recognised and various events and activities to promote this were held throughout the year.  The current aim was for MyTime Active to integrate further within the Borough to give residents wider access to health and fitness facilities.  In this very competitive and challenging environment, it was essential for a vast range of physical activities and programmes to be provided in order to engage and retain inactive people.

Councillor Michael was pleased to note that, apart from an increase in fees for casual paying services, a number of prices had been frozen.  Members were informed that MyTime continued to offer bargains and deals in order to attract and retain interest.  It was anticipated that the revised pricing schedule would help to compete in the current competitive market.

Fierce competition from other organisations continued to challenge MyTime to provide services to a much wider audience to enable them to stay ahead of their competitors.  If a competitor was to concentrate on providing just one individual service, MyTime would need to assess the commercial viability of providing the same service before it continued to compete.

In relation to MyTime's request for Investment Fund monies, Members were informed that as funding had not been fully released for three years, this had impacted negatively on MyTime's ability to maintain the services it could offer.  There were currently several facilities which were in urgent need of upgrading and refurbishment.  The Assistant Director, Culture Libraries and Leisure, outlined the required elements for the release of funds and confirmed that all works set out in MyTime's Investment Fund Programme were compliant.  Although any proposals put forward for refurbishment and improvement of facilities would add to MyTime's profitability, there were other concerns and further issues arising from the adventure golf proposals.

Childcare provision for parents who required out of hours supervision for their children was provided in a variety of venues including the Council's Great Hall.  After school clubs and breakfast clubs were also provided in a number of Bromley schools.  MyTime aimed to explore and develop these  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22